Real Madrid are closing in on the signing of River Plate’s teenage star Franco Mastantuono in a deal worth €40 million, marking their latest move in a growing strategy to invest in elite young South American talent.
The 17-year-old attacking midfielder has already carved his name into River Plate’s history books and is now set to swap Buenos Aires for the Bernabeu, following in the footsteps of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Endrick.
Mastantuono, born in the town of Azul, initially juggled tennis and football before choosing the latter. Although he turned down River Plate’s first academy offer at age 10, he eventually joined in 2019 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the top scorer in multiple youth divisions.
He was promoted to the Under-17 side at just 15 and signed a professional contract with a €45 million release clause in 2023.
His breakthrough came in early 2024 when then-manager Martin Demichelis brought him into the senior squad, leading to his official debut in a Copa de la Liga match against Argentinos Juniors.
A month later, Mastantuono became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer with a stunning volley in the Copa Argentina, breaking a long-standing record held by Javier Saviola.
Despite showing early promise, he experienced limited minutes under Demichelis, sparking criticism from fans. But the arrival of club legend Marcelo Gallardo as head coach brought renewed faith in the youngster.
He returned to form in the 2025 season, becoming a first-team regular and delivering a standout moment with a spectacular free-kick in a Superclasico win over Boca Juniors.
That performance earned him a senior Argentina call-up, where he became the youngest-ever player to feature in a competitive match.
Mastantuono is known for his electric dribbling, precision passing, and deadly left foot, often drawing comparisons to Manchester City’s Phil Foden.
However, he is still developing aspects of his game, including his physicality and right-footed play. Still, his potential has top European clubs vying for his signature, with Paris Saint-Germain reportedly pushing hard before Madrid won the race.
Now poised to join the reigning Spanish and European champions, Mastantuono could feature in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
Whether he debuts this summer or spends more time with River remains to be seen, especially with both clubs potentially facing off in the tournament.
Regardless, his rise from local talent to global prospect has already made headlines, and the next chapter of his story is about to begin in Madrid.
