What is going on with Franco Mastantuono? | OneFootball

In the high-stakes ecosystem of Real Madrid, momentum is the only currency that matters. A few months ago, Franco Mastantuono was wealthy. Today, he looks like a man searching for a way back into the bank.

Following Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Osasuna on Sunday, a startling statistic began to circulate among the Spanish and Argentine press: Mastantuono has played just 13 minutes in Madrid’s last four outings. For a player who arrived labeled the “Next Big Thing” and a price tag to match, his sudden disappearance from the rotation is troubling.

The Arbeloa U-Turn

The most confusing part of Mastantuono’s situation is how quickly the floor fell out from under him after Álvaro Arbeloa first took the reins at the Bernabéu. He started five of Arbeloa’s first six games, playing 70-plus minutes regularly and showing the vision that made him a star at River Plate.

“His qualities are obvious,” Arbeloa said recently, sounding more like a protective father than a demanding coach. But the reality is reflected in the minutes: 8 minutes against Valencia, then three straight games on the bench.

The Pubalgia Hangover

It hasn’t been a smooth road physically, either. Earlier in the season, while still playing under Xabi Alonso, Mastantuono was hit with pubalgia. The condition commonly known as a “sports hernia” impacts the groin and pelvic area. It’s a frustrating, nagging injury that saps the explosiveness of creative players and can have a long recovery time. Both Lamine Yamal and Cole Palmer were diagnosed with it in recent months.

While Mastantuono eventually returned—scoring a clinical goal against Monaco and another in the Copa del Rey—the injury seems to have robbed him of that half-yard of pace he used so effectively in Buenos Aires.

The Lamine Yamal Shadow

Spanish media thrives on a binary: if Barcelona has Lamine Yamal, Madrid must have an answer. The pressure to match Yamal’s meteoric rise has been a heavy rucksack for a teenager still adjusting to the “European rhythm.”

Mastantuono, to his credit, has handled the noise with a maturity that belies his age. “Today, Lamine is better than me,” he told El Larguero with startling honesty. “He’s at an amazing level. I’ve just arrived; I’m in an adaptation process.”

But his frankness doesn’t stop the headlines. When you are labeled “the worst signing in history” one week and “the next Messi” the next, the psychological toll is real. “Does the criticism hurt? Yes,” Franco admitted in late January. “I don’t believe I’m Messi, but I don’t believe I’m the worst signing ever, either.”

“A Benefit to River, A Gamble for Franco”

Back in Buenos Aires, the “Mastan-mania” has cooled into a cynical “I told you so.” River Plate legend Beto Alonso didn’t hold back in a recent interview with Fede Rubi, suggesting the move happened too soon.

“It was a sale that benefited River,” Alonso remarked bluntly. “But he should have stayed at least three more years for the fans to enjoy him. They are killing him now because he’s lost the factor of surprise. Everyone knows he’s going to cut inside on that left foot.”

The Di Maria Endorsement

However, not everyone is selling their Mastantuono stock. Angel Di Maria, a man who knows exactly what it’s like to be criticized at the Bernabéu, jumped to the youngster’s defense.

“He’s much more talented than I was and a better dribbler,” Di Maria told Diario AS. “He has his whole career ahead of him. It’s easy to improve when you have the best players around you.”

The Reality of Being Young in Madrid

Mastantuono isn’t the first teenager to find out how hard it is to play at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid is a club that demands wins right now, which means they don’t always have time to wait for kids to develop.

Look at Endrick and Arda Güler. Both came to Madrid as superstars in the making, but they have spent a lot of time sitting on the bench. Even Nico Paz, who was the star of Madrid’s own academy, had to leave. He is playing great football now at Como on loan, but he had to leave Madrid just to get a chance to show what he can do. Maybe that’s what Franco’s future will be? Only time will tell…

For a young player, the Real Madrid jersey can feel very heavy.

The Road to the 2026 World Cup

The big question now isn’t just about Madrid—it’s about the blue and white stripes of Argentina. With the 2026 World Cup looming, Mastantuono’s lack of playing time is a flashing red light for Lionel Scaloni.

If he remains a permanent fixture on Arbeloa’s bench, his dream of a World Cup call-up might collapse. Scaloni values “rhythm” above all else. For Franco to make the plane, he doesn’t just need to be “talented”—he needs to be playing.