Real Madrid’s €171 million worth of gamble that failed to take off this season | OneFootball

Real Madrid bet big on youth last summer, investing heavily in three of the most exciting prospects in world football. 

However, that gamble has failed to pay off this season. 

Simply put, three players sit at the centre of this debate, namely, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono.

All three arrived with immense hype. All three are seen as future pillars of the club. But right now, none of them are undisputed starters.

There is no denying the scale of the gamble, as Real Madrid committed over €171 million to secure the trio, signalling a clear shift towards building the next generation. 

But at a club where immediate results are demanded, patience is rarely afforded. In turn, the situation became impossible to ignore as the season progressed.

The scale of the problem can be understood by the fact that against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, in what was arguably the defining night of the season, all three players were left out of the starting XI. 

It was not a rotation decision or a minor tactical tweak. It was a statement that when the stakes were at their highest, they were not considered ready.

That alone says everything about where they stand today.

Youth on their side but pressure remains

Franco Mastantuono has failed to live up to his potential. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

For what it is worth, these three players are not finished products. 

Even for a veteran, the adaptation period is important, but when these three players signed, they knew what was in store.

Regardless of their age – Mastantuono is just 18, Huijsen is 21, and Carreras is 23 – the ability to bear immediate expectation is required from the get-go.

Their long-term importance is not in doubt. In that fact, the club has tied all three down to contracts running until at least 2030, which shows a clear commitment to their development.

But Real Madrid is not a club that waits. The present always outweighs the future and right now, they are not among the players trusted for decisive moments.

Veterans still ahead

Manager Alvaro Arbeloa made his position clear without saying a word.

Against Bayern, Ferland Mendy was preferred over Carreras, while Eder Militao got the nod ahead of Huijsen, decisions that raised eyebrows given fitness concerns. 

Yet experience and reliability were prioritised over potential. Even more telling was Arbeloa’s in-game management.

He made just one substitution before the 90th minute and used only three in total, with only Mastantuono getting on the pitch between the three.

That level of reluctance to turn to the bench shows a lack of trust in the available options, including the high-profile summer arrivals.

Mastantuono’s situation raises eyebrows

Among the trio, Franco Mastantuono’s case stands out the most.

Alvaro Carreras is not undisputed anymore. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Once seen as a player ready to contribute immediately, his role has dramatically reduced. 

After starting five of Arbeloa’s first six matches, he has now slipped almost entirely out of the picture. 

His numbers are stark, having played just 76 minutes across the last 15 matches.

A sharp decline that shows a shift in hierarchy, driven partly by a loss of confidence and partly by the rise of Brahim Diaz, who has taken advantage of his opportunities.

A long-term project facing short-term scrutiny

As such, There is still time for all three players to come good. 

That was always the plan, as Real Madrid did not invest €171.2 million expecting instant perfection, but rather future dominance.

Yet football at this level rarely allows for long settling periods.

The expectations are immediate, the margins are fine, and the pressure is constant. Right now, the reality is that the investments have not yet translated into impact.

However, that does not mean it will not. 

But it does mean questions are already being asked, and at Real Madrid, those questions tend to grow louder with every passing game.