It was the feeling at the start of the season in Madrid. Having just got off the plane, Franco Mastantuono quickly established himself as a starter for Xabi Alonso's team, producing particularly satisfactory copies. And this, when everyone thought that he was going to need several months, or even a season of adaptation. Often aligned on the right flank, the player trained at River displayed all his technical quality and his willingness to take risks and initiatives was praised by fans and observers.
Clearly, he had passed players like Rodrygo Goes or Brahim Diaz in the hierarchy. But last week, when his team had two prestigious meetings against Juventus and against the sworn enemy FC Barcelona, Franco Mastantuono only played… 6 minutes. A small entry into play at the very end of the match against the Turinese, before watching the entire Clasico from the sidelines. A prolific week for Real Madrid and for many of its major players, like Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham, but clearly not for the Argentinian…
Not at the level of big matches?
In big matches, Xabi Alonso doesn't really seem to trust him yet, and against Atlético Madrid at the end of September he also started on the bench. It must be said that even before this match against Juventus, Mastantuono had not necessarily shone against Getafe and Villarreal, displaying less spontaneity, more prudence in the way he played and less ability to make differences with the ball. A situation that is getting people talking in Spain, like the newspaper A.S.which explains that “Mastantuono comes back to earth”.
It must be said that the various returns of players like Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, who also took “his” place during the Clasico, do not help. But we have seen, in these last two matches, that Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo have moved ahead of Mastantuono in Xabi Alonso's choices. With a goal and an assist in eleven matches in all competitions this season, the Argentine nugget will have to be patient and wait for new opportunities, assuming his new role as replacement. But ultimately, isn’t this just a return to normality? One thing is certain, Real Madrid remains convinced that in the medium to long term, Mastantuono will become one of the best players on the planet…
