Radio Gol
·7 février 2026
Arbeloa on Mastantuono’s first month at Real Madrid: "Very young"

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·7 février 2026

The first six months of Franco Mastantuono at Real Madrid have resulted in 3 goals and 1 assist in 23 matches—numbers that have done little to impress in the Spanish capital, where age is of little concern and every player on the squad is measured by the highest possible standard. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that, in the meantime, there was a change of coach.
Álvaro Arbeloa arrived at the club this past January 12th, following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso. And although he has yet to complete his first month as Real Madrid’s manager, the Spaniard responded to questions from the press and explained his vision regarding Mastantuono.
“I think Mastantuono is a kid who has arrived at Real Madrid at a very young age,” Arbeloa clarified as he began his analysis. At first, it seemed like some harsh words were coming for the Argentine, but the coach quickly changed the tone of his statement and said: “He has a tremendous amount of potential, with the ability to play out wide and beat his man, but also to play inside.”
“I think he has great power, ball control, and above all, a tremendous work ethic,” Arbeloa added. “He’s giving us a lot with the intensity he brings to the game. Obviously, we hope he continues to improve,” he emphasized.
“Joining Real Madrid is not the easiest thing in the world; it’s a very demanding club. But when you see Franco play, you can see the abilities he has and what a great player he is. Personally, I’m very happy with his work, his commitment, and what he’s giving us on the pitch. I’m sure he’s only going to get better,” concluded the Spanish coach.
Since Arbeloa’s arrival, Mastantuono has started in five of the six matches Real Madrid has played, and has scored two of his three goals this season. The Argentine winger seems to have found new confidence with Arbeloa on the Merengue bench, and it remains to be seen how his development will continue.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
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