Napoli reject Real Madrid’s young talent in Mastantuono saga | OneFootball

The name of Franco Mastantuono continues to fuel market fantasies and rumors, but his connection to Napoli seems destined to remain little more than a suggestion. Despite the rumors circulating in recent days, the Azzurri club has never really made a decisive move for the Argentine class of 2007. This choice is rooted in very specific technical, strategic, and economic reasons.

Napoli, Azzurri maneuvers, the Mastantuono case: why Napoli says no to the Real Madrid talent

At just 18 years old, Mastantuono is already considered one of the brightest prospects in South American football. Last summer, Real Madrid invested 45 million euros to snatch him from River Plate, beating fierce international competition. An operation that demonstrates how much the Blancos believe in his potential.

The impact with the Madrid world, however, was not immediate. The competition in the offensive area is fierce: Rodrygo, Arda Güler, Brahim Díaz, and other talents make it difficult to carve out space between the midfield and attack. A situation that has inevitably sparked reflections on the young Argentine's short-term future.

Rumors about the loan and Napoli's name

According to market rumors, Mastantuono's entourage has started to explore the availability of some European clubs for a loan to ensure more continuity, also in view of next summer's World Cup. Among the teams contacted, Napoli's name was also mentioned.

A path that, upon closer examination, presents more obstacles than opportunities.

Why Napoli doesn't make a move: all the reasons for the no

The first setback comes directly from Madrid. Xabi Alonso, the new technical reference at Real, believes in the player and considers him an integral part of the project: the idea of letting him go, even temporarily, is not a priority.

There is also a purely technical aspect. Sporting director Giovanni Manna is oriented towards different profiles: Napoli is looking for a pure midfielder, functional to the team's balance, rather than an offensive winger or a playmaker like Mastantuono.

Added to all this is the economic issue. The Azzurri, bound to a zero-balance January market, would first need to free up space in the squad and budget to accommodate even just the salary of the young Argentine. An operation that is anything but simple without targeted sales.

The unrealistic scenario of the "facilitated" loan

The hypothesis remains, on paper, of a free loan with Real Madrid sharing the salary. A scenario that, however, seems unlikely. The Blancos would hardly agree to "give away" a talent considered strategic to a team that could become a direct opponent in the Champions League.

A prospect that does not excite the Madrid leaders and makes the operation almost impractical.

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