Real Madrid

Real Madrid paid big, but something’s up with Mastantuono

The young Argentine talent is still waiting for his breakout, but those who know him best insist patience will pay off.

Update: Mar 26th, 2026 04:21 EDT

Faith means believing without seeing, accepting a supposed truth as fact without proof. That is the doctrine part of the Real Madrid fan base is still trying to apply to Franco Mastantuono, who keeps piling up disappointments, the latest being his first red card in league play, against Getafe. That hope, built on flashes of brilliance and sporadic star-like displays on the other side of the Atlantic, has become a source of optimism around a player who arrived with the label of prodigy and whose full emergence is taking longer than expected. Those believers who did witness his “miracles” in Argentina are urging the skeptics to hold on to the conviction that he will make his mark sooner rather than later.

The numbers for the diamond who cost $68 million, the official figure revealed by River Plate, show that he is still getting up to speed, building momentum but not yet taking off. Real Madrid’s No. 30 has played 1,219 minutes across 25 games, 15 as a starter. He has scored three goals, against Levante, Albacete and Monaco, averaging one every 406 minutes. He is still waiting for his first assist and has collected four yellow cards in addition to the straight red shown by Muñiz Ruiz. Over the last 10 games he has been on the field for only 51 minutes, and he was absent from both the crucial showdown at the Etihad and the derby. His performances are still far from what was expected, but the roadmap laid out for his integration remains unchanged. The adaptation period is still underway, and the mix of youth and quality keeps expectations extremely high in spite of everything. Meanwhile, his circle of supporters continues to back him without hesitation and predicts a very bright future.

“No one should panic”

Daniel Brizuela, a respected Argentine scout, traveled in 2016 to Azul, a town 186 miles from Buenos Aires, to watch a 9-year-old boy he had heard extraordinary things about. His instincts were right. “There is far too much haste to speed up the process, but no one should panic. It is very important to follow the proper steps. Franco had only just begun to take off at River when Madrid signed him, then he moved to Europe, and uprooting yourself is a major factor. It would have been a good decision to let him mature here for another year, maybe even two, because taking him so early can end up making the road longer. It is the same case as Echeverri. They are both pure elite and will play for Argentina for many years. Proper planning is needed so the growth is steady. Franco is a sensational player, top level, very intelligent and with enormous personality. In the future he will be the player Madrid thought it was buying and he will meet expectations. I have no doubt about that, but it takes time and requires patience,” the talent scout predicts.

“It’s a matter of giving him time”

Hermes Desio arrived in Spain in 1994 at age 24 and spent nine seasons playing for Celta, Salamanca and Alavés. He also had a brief spell as sporting director of River Plate’s youth system, where he crossed paths with Mastantuono because the young talent had already joined the first-team setup. “He still has a long way to go. Playing and standing out at River at 17 is very difficult, and that alone is reason to trust him. If there is one thing that always set him apart, it was his mentality. That makes him different from other players. It is simply a matter of giving him time to grow. He has enormous quality still to show, and he will show it. Once he settles in, he will reveal his full range. At River we already saw part of what he can become, and although Madrid is a giant club, I think Mastantuono will end up proving just how good he is.”

Great legends of Argentina’s national team are on his side as well. Ángel Di María made his feelings clear a few weeks ago in AS: “He has more quality than I do, a better dribble and his whole career ahead of him. He’s going to grow a lot.” Javier Saviola, another wonderkid who arrived in Spain from River at a very young age, sees it the same way. “His breakout will come soon, I have no doubt. I believe he will give a lot to his team. In the coming months or next season, that leap will come, and those waiting to see his talent shine will get to see it,” said the former Real Madrid and Barcelona forward.

Real Madrid paid big, but something’s up with Mastantuono — Archivo

“He needs stability”

Eduardo “Chavo” Anzarda is one of the four players who went directly from River to Real Madrid, without any stopovers. The others were Gonzalo Higuaín, Oscar “Pinino” Más and Mastantuono himself. The former striker, who arrived in Spain in 1971, shares the wave of optimism surrounding his countryman’s future. “Madrid made a major investment in an emerging jewel, and I am convinced it did not make a mistake. Many people think his level is far below what was expected, but you have to take into account his age, his adjustment, and the fact that he still needs to find out what his ideal position on the field is, wide or central. The demands of Madrid and of European soccer are extremely high, and big changes do not happen overnight. I am betting on a brilliant future for him because he has quality, personality and ambition. His technique and his mind speak for him. He needs stability in order to grow, but he will gain experience by training with world-class teammates and playing games until he reaches the status his talent deserves.”

“He is mentally strong”

If anyone knows the young talent from Azul well, it is Gabriel Orlando Rodríguez, director of River Plate’s youth divisions. After helping develop stars such as Julián Alvarez, Enzo Fernández, Hernán Crespo, Exequiel Palacios and Claudio Echeverri, he approved Mastantuono’s arrival at age 12 and oversaw his development from the front line. “Franco arrived in Madrid with unusual expectations because of both his age and his rapid rise at River, and at a club the size of Real Madrid, the process can sometimes be complex. What helps him is that he is mentally strong, and I am sure he will explode as a major talent. He is intelligent, sensible, self-assured, knows how to read the game, is a good passer, creates danger and can score. He only needs time, but he will get wherever he sets his mind to,” says the man who helped shape so many stars.

“He left too soon”

Diego Borinsky is an influential journalist with deep ties to the River universe. He spent 25 years at El Gráfico and wrote the biographies of Marcelo Gallardo, Matías Almeyda and Lionel Scaloni. He follows everything that happens around the red sash and the Monumental in detail and has watched the young star from Azul develop. “Mastantuono left too soon. He needed to stay longer at River in order to arrive in Europe more fully formed. On top of that, he landed at a turbulent moment with a coaching change, uneven results and pubalgia. It is not the ideal context for a quick adjustment or an early breakthrough, but he is an exceptional player, there is no doubt about that,” says the Buenos Aires-born writer, who also holds a degree in biological sciences.

Meanwhile, the player, supported and protected by a close family and professional circle, is keeping his feet on the ground and a cool head. He recently addressed his situation with maturity: “I’m neither Messi nor Real Madrid’s worst signing. I understand criticism, as long as it’s not malicious, and I’m working to deliver my best version.”

Time is a double-edged sword for him. On one hand, he has plenty of room to blossom into a star because his authority is unquestionable, his first contract with Madrid runs through 2031, and the club’s confidence in him has not dropped in the slightest. On the other, the young player is holding on to the dream of making the World Cup squad with the reigning world champions, and his current undefined status does not strengthen his case, despite the faith Scaloni has shown by calling him up for the next two friendlies. The ball is in his court.