Real Madrid’s plan for Mastantuono: January key, no loan, minutes | OneFootball

January appears to be a decisive month in Franco Mastantuono’s career, following a firm decision by Real Madrid: to design a tailored path for the Argentine and avoid any premature departure. After an injury that halted his initial growth, the club believes it is time to reintegrate him into the first team’s dynamics.

The shortage of offensive options directly influenced the decision, as no reinforcements arrived in that area and there were additional temporary absences. For this reason, the option of a loan was ruled out and the priority was to keep him within the professional squad so he could regain continuity.

From the sporting management, they believe that this stage of the season marks the beginning of a long-term plan focused on the development of the attacking midfielder who arrived from River at just 18 years old. According to the newspaper Marca, confidence in his potential was key to keeping him as part of the project.

The absence of key players is affecting the team’s offensive setup, with Kylian Mbappé’s injury, Brahim Díaz’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, and Endrick’s departure to Lyon. This scenario opens a window for the left-footer to gain ground and accumulate minutes.

The club understands that retaining control over his development is fundamental, avoiding rushed decisions that could affect his growth. That’s why a gradual integration has been planned, without demanding more from him than necessary at this stage.

Before the injury, he had started in nine of the first 14 matches, with an almost constant presence. Pubalgia sidelined him for several weeks and caused him to lose ground, although the break also served to reassess objectives.

A key point was a direct conversation with Xabi Alonso in Valdebebas, where a clear work plan was outlined. As the Spanish media highlighted, “his attitude, they emphasize internally, was never in question and was not among the issues to be corrected.”

Despite recent inquiries, such as Napoli’s interest, the management’s stance is unwavering. Even journalist Fabrizio Romano reinforced this version by stating: “Reports indicating that Franco Mastantuono would leave Real Madrid on loan in January are far from reality.” The goal is for him to regain prominence and establish himself in this new stage.

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