Mastantuono spoke before the World Cup: «I’m happy» | OneFootball

Franco Mastantuono, a year ago, moved from River to Real Madrid in a historic transfer, with the prospect of becoming the new star of football for Argentina. Now, ahead of the 2026 World Cup, his place on the World Cup squad is uncertain. And before the final call-up is confirmed, Mastantuono spoke.

“I’m happy, I was eager to be here,” Mastantuono told ESPN upon his arrival in Argentina this Monday. The Real Madrid player gave no clues about whether he will be at the World Cup. “Always nervous, but it’s nice when this happens, so now we wait. It was a difficult season, but I learned a lot, and next season will surely be better,” the forward added.

Is he going to the World Cup?

“The list is pretty clear,” said Gastón Edul, the journalist who covers Argentina’s day-to-day for TyC Sports. “There is doubt over whether Franco Mastantuono will go to the World Cup or not. That’s where the news lies: whether he goes or not. As of today, he is doubtful because of the way he arrives. The same goes for Colo Barco, though I see him more likely to go than not,” the journalist said.

“Among Medina, Senesi, Barco, Mastantuono, Lo Celso, and Prestianni, three of those six will go. In my opinion, it will be Senesi, Barco, and Lo Celso,” Gastón Edul said ahead of Scaloni’s final decision, as he prepares to announce the players on the final squad list for the 2026 World Cup.

“In midfield, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Exequiel Palacios are confirmed. Barco and Lo Celso are competing for places. In attack, Giuliano Simeone, Nico González, Thiago Almada, Lionel Messi, Nico Paz, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, and José Manuel López are going,” Edul added.

What’s going on with Mastantuono?

“I don’t know if Scaloni has drawn any concrete conclusions, but if up to this point you had the chance to move up the ladder, I don’t think there are players who have moved up or down. But there are players who could have taken a step forward and didn’t, like Mastantuono. If the list were made today, he wouldn’t be on it. But if he starts playing again and gets continuity, then we’re talking about something different,” journalist Diego Monroig said on ESPN.

“It will depend on the kind of activity he gets at Real Madrid. Scaloni already knows what he can offer. They have different characteristics, but on the list he is seen as being in competition with Prestianni. If Mastantuono goes back to Real Madrid and maintains—or repeats—what he had been showing, he’s going to have a tough time,” the journalist added.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.