The ‘Endrick Formula’ in Action: Real Madrid offer €25m for the ‘Pearl of Argentina’

Journalist Sergio Lopez de Vicente has reported through AS that Real Madrid are poised to make a significant offer for one of Argentina’s brightest young talents, Franco Mastantuono.

The club is preparing to present a bid of €25 million to River Plate for the 16-year-old attacking midfielder.

Though Mastantuono’s name has not been widely discussed in the media, negotiations with him and his current club are progressing smoothly. The quiet surrounding the deal is indicative of Real Madrid’s preference for discretion in their transfer dealings.

Real Madrid are being careful

Mastantuono’s recent contract extension with River Plate has raised his release clause to €45 million, reflecting his high value in the market. Nevertheless, Real Madrid are working diligently to finalise the transfer at a lower cost, targeting a final figure of around €25 million.

It must be noted that Real Madrid’s pursuit of Mastantuono has evolved through several stages. Initially, there was clear interest, followed by a period of internal deliberation, and now the club has resolved to move forward with the acquisition.

This determination is largely driven by Santiago Solari, the current Director of Football, who has been a strong advocate for signing Mastantuono. Solari’s insistence on pursuing the young talent has placed him in charge of managing the negotiations.

He has been in regular contact with River Plate and Mastantuono’s representatives, fostering a positive relationship that is expected to facilitate the deal.

Real Madrid plan to use the ‘Endrick Formula’

The negotiations are progressing with a favourable outlook, and there is optimism that the final transfer fee will be less than the €45 million release clause.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are also considering a strategy similar to their previous deal for Endrick, where the player could be signed now but remain with his current club for an additional year.

This approach would allow Mastantuono to continue his development at River Plate and arrive at Real Madrid in a more mature state, potentially easing the current squad’s congestion issues.

Although no agreement has been finalised and no immediate conclusion is expected, Real Madrid are actively working towards securing this exceptional young talent.