Real Madrid scouts pinpoint South American talent as a perfect fit for the squad

According to a report from journalist Miguel Angel Garcia in AS, Real Madrid view Franco Mastantuono as an ideal fit for their strategy of scouting and signing young talents.

This strategy has already seen significant success with players like Federico Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurelien Tchouameni, who have all made substantial impacts on the first team and helped the club win numerous titles.

As a result, Real Madrid are now setting their sights on Mastantuono as the next potential star to join their ranks.

Mastantuono: A record-breaker

The wave of promising South American players continues to shatter records with their early achievements. Alongside notable names, Mastantuono has emerged as a standout talent.

The River Plate midfielder is not an ordinary player; he is a record-breaking phenomenon. In a recent match against Sarmiento, he played a pivotal role in securing the final victory of the Demichelis era with a stunning goal.

This remarkable feat added to his growing list of accomplishments. Scoring his first goal in the league, Mastantuono became the youngest player in River Plate’s history to score from a direct free kick at the age of 16 years and 349 days.

Earlier in February, during the Copa Argentina, he set another record by becoming the youngest scorer for the club at 16 years and 177 days. He continued this trend in April, setting the record as the youngest scorer in the Copa Libertadores at 16 years and 254 days.

Despite being on the verge of turning 17, Mastantuono exhibits the composure and skill of a seasoned veteran.

He handles pressure and media attention with ease, which has allowed him to accumulate 21 official appearances for River Plate. Interestingly, his consistent performance has not gone unnoticed, and major European clubs are starting to take interest in him.

Real Madrid are very much interested in Mastantuono

Real Madrid, in particular, are keen on acquiring Mastantuono. Santiago Solari, the director of the Football Department at Real Madrid and a fellow Argentine, has been a strong advocate for Mastantuono.

The young talent aligns perfectly with Real Madrid’s long-term transfer strategy, which focuses on identifying and securing young prospects who can develop into key players for the team.

However, acquiring Mastantuono will not be an easy feat. River Plate are aware of his value and are determined not to let him go cheaply.

The economic realities in South America often lead to the exodus of talented players, but River Plate intend to avoid this. The club has set Mastantuono’s release clause at a non-negotiable €41.5 million.

With a contract that runs until December 2026, by which time he will be 19, Mastantuono continues to impress with his performances in Argentina, drawing the attention of football enthusiasts worldwide.