River Plate sporting director addresses Mastantuono’s Real Madrid switch – ‘Special player for a special club’ | OneFootball

River Plate and Uruguay icon Enzo Francescoli, a legend admired even by Zinedine Zidane, has spoken openly about Franco Mastantuono’s arrival at Real Madrid.

In an interview with AS, Francescoli praised the teenager’s talent and maturity, believing he has what it takes to thrive at the highest level.

When asked about his opinion on the youngster, he explained, “He’s a young man with enormous talent and great maturity.

“Beyond his excellence on the field, his personality is also striking. He just turned 18, but he acts on the court like someone much older, with more experience.

“His great technique helps him perform with ease, but his intelligence and personality are essential qualities that will stay with him throughout his life.

Madrid move and future expectations

Mastantuono has already been given opportunities under Xabi Alonso, something that Francescoli sees as a positive sign.

“If he’s so young and just arrived, there’s a reason why. In elite football, no one gives anything away.

“Maybe he’s not making a difference yet, but he’s just arrived and needs to adapt. Time will tell what he’s capable of.”

As River Plate’s sporting director for nearly 12 years, Francescoli was also asked about the transfer interest surrounding Mastantuono. He confirmed,

Francescoli has spoken highly of Mastantuono. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“He generated a lot of excitement since his debut and there was interest from several clubs, but when Madrid came on the scene, Franco ruled out everything else.

“He always had a clear choice and I think he made the right decision. That’s where he belongs. He’s a special player for a special club.

“That’s why when that option arose, we all followed that path and, luckily, we reached a successful conclusion in the negotiations.”

PSG interest

Reports of PSG’s interest were also brought up, but Francescoli clarified,

“It’s true that there were talks and the lad himself has acknowledged that he spoke to Luis Enrique.

“But Real Madrid reacted quickly, and that was the end of the options for the French and the rest of the interested parties. We were all determined to reach an agreement with Real Madrid.”

Looking ahead, Francescoli has no doubts about Mastantuono’s future in Europe, “I think Franco is going to be the talk of Europe. He’s ready for it and will grow even more.

“My feeling is that he’s going to succeed at Real Madrid, despite how difficult it is to achieve such a challenge, and that he’ll become a very important player in Europe,” he concluded.