Jose Mourinho not counting on highly-rated Real Madrid winger for next season | OneFootball

Franco Mastantuono’s future at Real Madrid appears increasingly uncertain after fresh reports suggested that incoming manager Jose Mourinho does not see the young Argentine as part of his immediate plans.

According to The Objective, Mourinho has already communicated his views to the club’s hierarchy and is not counting on Mastantuono for next season. 

The development represents a significant setback for the teenager, who arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu amid huge expectations last summer but struggled to make the desired impact during his first campaign in Spain.

The youngster was considered one of the brightest talents in South American football when Real Madrid invested heavily to bring him from River Plate. 

However, after a challenging debut season, questions are already being asked about the next stage of his development.

Mourinho not planning around Mastantuono

Mourinho is not counting on Mastantuono. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The report claims that Mourinho wants a squad capable of delivering immediate results and is reluctant to dedicate valuable first-team minutes to a player he believes still requires significant development.

The Portuguese has communicated this to the Real Madrid board, which is now exploring the best pathway for the youngster’s growth.

Mastantuono arrived at Real Madrid in a deal worth around €63.5 million, a figure that generated enormous expectations. 

While the club always viewed the Argentine as a long-term investment, many fans were hoping to see more tangible signs of progress during his first year.

Instead, adapting to the demands of European football proved difficult.

So what now?

Mastantuono could leave on loan. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Understandably, patience around the player has started to wear thin in some sections of the fanbase, particularly given the size of the investment made to secure his signature.

Real Madrid, however, continue to believe in the player’s potential and are not considering a permanent departure, which is why a loan move is viewed as the preferred solution by all parties.

In that regard, one destination stands out above the rest.

As reported before, River Plate have expressed a strong interest in bringing their former star back to Argentina and have already contacted Real Madrid to discuss the possibility of a loan agreement, although nothing has been agreed on the matter so far.