Franco Mastantuono starts in Álvaro Arbeloa’s Real Madrid debut | OneFootball

Less than two days after donning the suit left by Xabi Alonso and being introduced to society, Álvaro Arbeloa will have his first test as the new coach of Real Madrid. This afternoon, starting at 5 PM, he will face the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey against Albacete, with several key absences and the return of Franco Mastantuono to the starting lineup.

Due to the lack of options in attack, as Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Brahim Díaz were not called up (nor will other key players like Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Aurélien Tchouameni, and Jude Bellingham be present), the Argentine midfielder will start against their Second Division rival.

Mastantuono and his irregular journey at Real Madrid

The former River player had generated a lot of excitement upon his arrival in the Spanish capital with his play characterized by pauses and acceleration at just the right moment, in addition to showcasing his excellent striking ability. However, as the matches progressed, he lost ground and in the last two months has only appeared as a starter once.

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