Mastantuono amazed by Xabi Alonso’s man management ahead of “dream move” to Real Madrid

Promising young River Plate player Franco Mastantuono won’t be making his Real Madrid debut just yet. For now, he has other commitments so fans will have to wait a few more weeks to see him don the iconic white kit for the first time.

Professional attitude with River Plate

In a recent interview with DAZN, the 17-year-old midfielder spoke with maturity well beyond his years: “Every time I play for River, from the day I made my first team debut, I try to do my job with professionalism. I know I don’t have many games left here [in Argentina], but I give the same passion and energy every time I step out onto the pitch. I have a deep love for this club—I’ll always give everything for these colors.”

Still, Mastantuono isn’t anxious about what the future holds: “Playing for Real Madrid is a dream. For me, it’s the biggest club in the world, the team with the most titles in Europe—every player wants to be there. It’ll mean changing my whole life, but I don’t even need to say it out loud—everyone knows what Real Madrid represents.”

Despite the looming move, he’s keeping both feet grounded and is focused on the Club World Cup with River top of Group E and needing just one point to make it through to the next round. The Italians are their next rivals and will compete for top spot at Lumen Field on Wednesday.

“I’m playing this tournament with River, and my focus is 100% here. No matter what people say or speculate, I know exactly where my head’s at,” Mastantuono explains.

“We’re playing for a spot in the Round of 16 against the best team in the group—Inter Milan—and we’re going all out. South American teams push ourselves to the limit just to make it here and represent with pride, and that’s exactly what we intend to do.”

Xabi: the game changer

Real Madrid’s new coach Xabi Alosno played a big part in the deal to bring Mastantuono to the Bernabéu. The Basque coach made a personal phonecall to the player to put his mind at ease about any worries he might have had before agreeing to the move.

“The way Xabi handled things with me was incredible. I’m incredibly grateful,” the player confessed. “That conversation had a big impact on me. When a coach genuinely wants you, that’s a huge show of trust—especially when you’re leaving a club as massive as River. That’s not an easy decision. His words gave me the motivation I needed to make the leap.”

He continued: “In soccer, I know I still have a lot to learn—and I’m eager to keep growing. I like to listen, observe, and absorb everything around me. That’s my greatest strength, and it helps me make decisions on the field”.

Much of that development, he admits, will depend on finding his true place on the pitch—a process closely tied to Xabi Alonso’s vision.

“I see myself more as a forward now. Growing up, I played as a classic No. 10, but these days I’ve taken on a more offensive role, attacking from the right. I’ve always enjoyed finishing more than playmaking. If you ask me, I’ll take scoring over assisting—but in my position, you need both to be a complete player.”

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