Real Madrid director pushes for South American prodigy despite club’s rejection | OneFootball

According to a recent report from AS, River Plate are well aware that they won’t be able to hold on to Franco Mastantuono for much longer.

It must be noted that the teenage sensation has caught the attention of several top clubs across Europe, with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, and multiple Premier League and Serie A teams circling.

Although Real Madrid have long admired Mastantuono’s talent, and Santiago Solari remains a strong advocate for bringing him to the Spanish capital, the situation between the club and the player has become complicated.

Despite the youngster’s interest in joining Los Blancos, and even after previously engaging in promising discussions with the club, Real Madrid have since taken a firm step back.

Real Madrid have a problem

The turning point came last year, when Mastantuono’s contract at River Plate was set to expire. Madrid swiftly opened communication with his camp and were optimistic about securing a deal.

However, just as talks seemed to be progressing smoothly, the player made a surprise U-turn and renewed his contract with the Argentine club.

Franco Mastantuono is wanted by several top European teams. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

This new deal included a steep €45 million release clause, a figure significantly higher than what Madrid were initially prepared to pay.

This unexpected move did not go down well. Real Madrid were left with the impression that Mastantuono’s agent had used their name strategically to drive up the player’s value and secure a better deal with River Plate.

Feeling manipulated, Real Madrid not only withdrew their interest but also placed Mastantuono on an internal “blacklist”.

Despite the fresh wave of interest sparked by Solari’s admiration and Mastantuono’s continued rise, Madrid’s stance, for now, appears to be dwindling.

The release clause is viewed as excessive, especially in the context of how the prior negotiations unfolded. For a club known for planning long-term and valuing trust in negotiations, this history has left a lasting mark.