On June 13, Real Madrid formalized the end of the Franco Mastanuono saga by announcing the signing of the 17 -year -old Argentinian prodigy of River Plate. “Real Madrid Cf announces that Franco Mastanuono will be a player from our club for the next six seasons, from August 14, 2025 to June 30, 2031”. A transfer that will cost no less than € 45 million to the Merengues.
Millonarios coach, Marcelo Gallardo, had welcomed the news with a form of fatality. “It's natural, we form players for the world. Everything happens earlier, young people leave faster, and I understand that these are the rules of the game. It was part of our project for next season. We must readjust ourselves, because there are players who, by their profile, are difficult to replace ”. But this transfer is mainly experienced in Spain as a sacred victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
Real can say thank you to Xabi Alonso
As a reminder, the Argentine press had announced that the capital's club was about to recruit Mastanuono. An announcement that awakened Real Madrid, which had checked the name of the International Albiceleste, but which had put the file on a stand-by following the increase in the release clause at € 45 million last winter. Faced with Parisian interest, the Spaniards therefore acted, effectively. And if the Merengues won the battle against the red and blue, it is largely thanks to their coach, Xabi Alonso. Questioned DaznMastanuono explained the reasons which pushed him to snub the Parisian offer to spin in Madrid.
“All world players dream of playing to River and Madrid. I want to let river at the top because they gave me everything and I am very grateful to them. I have my head in River and try to win the tournament (the Club World Cup, editor's note). (…) The way he (Xabi Alonso, editor's note) told me about incredible and I am very grateful to him. This conversation has had a great influence, because the fact that the coach wants you to be an important brand of trust for a player. Leaving a club like River is not easy and his words have motivated me a lot to make this jump. Playing for Madrid is a dream, I don't need to say what this club is, we all know. The club has won the most in Europe and the best club in the world. It is a new challenge in my life, a very beautiful challenge. What happens to me is something unique and I am very grateful to football and life. »» It is said.
