To win in Real Madrid at just 18 years old, freshly arrived from the South American continent, it is within the reach of very few players. The proof with Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr or Fede Valverde, who first had to play with Real Madrid Castilla or on loan elsewhere before being able to make a place in the first team. Franco Mastanuono has given him the impression of playing under the Merengue tunic for years already. Faced with Levante Tuesday evening, the Argentinian international made a great copy again, scored by his first league goal with his new team. Arrived in Madrid lands a little more than a month ago only, he conquered everyone, and those who were a little perplexed and septic when Xabi Alonso hammered before his arrival that Mastantuono was going to be important in his eyes are obliged to note that the Basque coach was in the real.
Very fan of the player, the former Mérengue midfielder knew exactly what role to give him on the field and was convinced that he was going to be an essential element of his team now, without the need for adaptation period. If the big clubs are used to being cautious when they launch young players in the deep end, Alonso has not taken any tweezers with Mastantuono and has already established it in 5 of the 7 duels played this season, including this Champions League match against OM. Knowing that on the return of the international break, he had voluntarily been put to rest against Real Sociedad. Anyway, if there was no need for a plan to gradually launch Franco Mastanuono, it is mainly because of the player's character and mental strength. Already accustomed to pressure and large Sudamerician meetings since his adolescence with River Plate, the 18-year-old attacking midfielders do not tremble when he crowds Spanish lawns.
Unheard of practically in Madrid
What most likely impresses is his ability to take initiatives and not to hide. Often, in this context, young players tend to play security or not to take too many risks, just to make mistakes or not lose the ball. Mastantuono he does not what to do and knows that if Real Madrid has invested 60 million euros on him, it is not for him to play back all the time, but so that he makes ball differences. The left -hander, mainly used on the right, thus displayed his ability to eliminate opponents, to combine, to play in small spaces, and above all, to make the right decision at the right time. He is thus a particularly intelligent, very participative player who creates a lot of interesting situations in front. More than just a hard -hitting winger, it is a real playmaker exiled on the side, and that's what pleases Alonso. There is no doubt that in the event of a system change or if the context asked, Mastantuono would be just as good on the left or in the axis, whether as a relay or a little more advanced. He is also a very competitive and aggressive player when we have to recover the ball, which has often failed in Madrid in recent years ahead, and we know that Madrid public opinion loves players who have this Garra And this rage to defeat.
A very strong personality which allowed him to become an almost inexpensive player on this right flank and to pass in front of Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz on the right, and it is a safe bet that if one day Xabi Alonso had to decide between Vinicius Jr and Mastanuono, his choice would be on the Argentinian … internally, his seriousness and his professionalism also shocked – in good. to welcome new blood and a young player with such a level. It should also be emphasized that he has arrived in ideal conditions, with the start of a new cycle, the level of certain formerly major players at half mast, and, as explained, the enormous confidence of his coach. And necessarily, this duel at a distance between Lamine Yamal and Franco Mastanuono is already starting to take the other side of the Pyrenees…
