Real Madrid summer arrival’s registration creates fresh concern for club ahead of Copa del Rey opener | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s preparations for their Copa del Rey opener against Talavera have been complicated by an unexpected regulatory issue surrounding one of their most exciting young signings. 

Franco Mastantuono, brought in during the summer as a major bet for the future, has become the centre of a selection headache for Xabi Alonso at a time when squad management is already proving difficult.

The core of the problem lies in Mastantuono’s registration status. Despite being a regular presence around the first team, the 18-year-old Argentine winger is officially registered as a Castilla player. 

According to MARCA, that detail carries significant consequences for Copa del Rey fixtures, where strict limits are placed on the number of youth players allowed in the starting XI.

So what now?

Because of this, Real Madrid can field Mastantuono and only three other youth players from the outset. 

In practical terms, Mastantuono already occupies one of those slots, leaving Alonso with just three remaining places for Castilla players in the starting lineup against Talavera. 

The remaining positions must be filled by players registered with the first team.

Franco Mastantuono’s registration has made things tricky for Xabi Alonso. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

This situation arrives at an awkward moment. With injuries mounting and the need to carefully manage workloads, the Copa del Rey would normally present an ideal opportunity to rotate heavily and offer rest to key figures. 

The irony is that Mastantuono himself is perfectly eligible for the competition and, under normal circumstances, would be one of the players most likely to start in this type of fixture. 

However, his classification as a Castilla player means he effectively reduces the margin Alonso has to experiment elsewhere on the pitch.

Despite these complications, Alonso will still take six Castilla players to Talavera to complete the squad. 

This is because several senior regulars, including Kylian Mbappe, Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde, are expected to be rested.

Among those called up will be goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez, defenders David Jimenez, along with midfielders Jorge Cestero and Thiago Pitarch. 

Alongside Mastantuono, three of these youngsters are strong candidates to feature from the start.