Barcelona Looking to Beat Real Madrid in Race for River Plate Star Franco Mastantuono
Real Madrid has built a strong reputation for signing young talents in recent years, securing players like Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham with great success. As they look to continue this trend, their next target was set: Franco Mastantuono, River Plate’s rising star.
However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has issued a warning to Madrid—the race for Mastantuono is far from over. Barcelona is reportedly keen on securing the 17-year-old attacking midfielder and is preparing to challenge their biggest rivals for his signature.
€41 Million Clause Attracting Europe’s Top Clubs
Mastantuono has been on the radar of several elite European clubs, drawn not only by his talent but also by his €41 million release clause. This price makes him an attractive prospect for teams looking to invest in the future.
With Barça and Madrid now in direct competition, the battle to land the Argentine wonderkid could intensify in the coming months. While Real Madrid had initially positioned themselves as favorites, Barcelona is determined not to let Florentino Pérez’s club take the lead in this race.
Who Will Win the Race?
With both Spanish giants interested, and several other European powerhouses monitoring the situation, Mastantuono’s future remains uncertain. Barcelona will look to move quickly to gain an advantage, while Real Madrid will try to maintain their dominance in the young talent market.
As the summer transfer window approaches, the next moves from Joan Laporta and Florentino Pérez could determine where Mastantuono ends up playing next season.
Barcelona Ready to Challenge Real Madrid for Franco Mastantuono
Real Madrid’s interest in Franco Mastantuono is strong, but the club risks repeating the Julián Álvarez situation if they don’t act swiftly. Atlético Madrid snatched Álvarez before Madrid could make a concrete move, and now a similar scenario could unfold with Mastantuono.
Barcelona Enter the Race
While Madrid is considering waiting until summer to finalize the deal, Barcelona is now preparing to strike first. Reports from Fichajes.com suggest that Barça is well aware of the financial effort required to secure the 17-year-old River Plate sensation, and they are willing to make a move soon.
With a €41 million release clause, the operation is relatively straightforward. However, if Madrid hesitates, Barcelona—or another European powerhouse—could swoop in and sign the highly-rated Argentine before the summer transfer window even opens.
Madrid’s Next Move?
Real Madrid has been highly successful in acquiring young South American talents, but Fabrizio Romano’s warning is clear: they must act fast or risk losing Mastantuono. Now, all eyes are on Florentino Pérez and Joan Laporta—who will make the decisive move first?
Real Madrid Losing Interest in Franco Mastantuono Amid Barcelona’s Pursuit
River Plate continues to produce top-tier talent, having developed Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, and Claudio Echeverri. Now, Franco Mastantuono is the latest young star attracting attention from Europe’s elite clubs, with Barcelona emerging as a serious contender for his signature.
Real Madrid’s Interest Fades
Despite previously being linked with Mastantuono, reports from Real Madrid Confidencial suggest that Los Blancos are no longer prioritizing his signing. The reason? Allegedly, Mastantuono and his agent used Madrid’s interest to increase his market value and secure a better contract at River Plate—a tactic that did not sit well with Florentino Pérez and the Madrid board.
As a result, Madrid’s focus has shifted elsewhere, potentially leaving the door wide open for Barcelona to make a decisive move.
Barcelona Ready to Take Advantage?
With Madrid cooling their interest, Barcelona is now in a prime position to push forward and secure Mastantuono’s signature. However, the Catalan club will still need to meet River Plate’s €41 million release clause and fend off other European suitors.
As the summer transfer window approaches, it remains to be seen whether Barça will capitalize on Madrid’s hesitation or if another club will step in to sign Argentina’s latest young sensation.
