Franco Mastantuono Exposes the Game-Changing Impact Alvaro Arbeloa Has Unleashed at Real Madrid
Franco Mastantuono praised Real Madrid's new head coach Álvaro Arbeloa for providing him with the self-assurance that wasn't consistently available during Xabi Alonso's previous leadership.
The €45 million ($53.8 million) summer acquisition has already scored twice under Arbeloa's guidance, matching his goal count from Alonso's era in 13 fewer appearances, and expressed being "completely thankful" to the new coach for enabling him to "perform with greater freedom."
"Álvaro and his complete coaching team gave me tremendous confidence, which I believe is essential for any player," he shared with DSports. "They provided me with significant trust, they demonstrated it to me, and that's wonderful for my development. I'm performing with more liberty because of this approach. I'm entirely appreciative of this coaching staff for their support.
"I'm also grateful to Xabi and his team; they believed in me enough to bring me here, but Álvaro is an excellent manager who is supporting us tremendously. I believe this is how we'll accomplish the objectives we've set for ourselves."
Mastantuono's Mixed Run Under Alonso
Mastantuono's Inconsistent Period Under Alonso
When Mastantuono arrived at Madrid during the previous summer, he was quick to acknowledge Alonso's influence in persuading him to transfer to the Bernabéu. Paris Saint-Germain pursued the 18-year-old talent, but Madrid demonstrated their strength and secured the signing instead.
Originally promoted as a potential immediate regular, Mastantuono received that status from the beginning, featuring in the starting lineup for four of Madrid's opening six La Liga matches and both initial Champions League encounters. Initially, progress was positive, as he became the club's fourth-youngest scorer in history and surpassed Endrick's record as the youngest player to start for the team in European competition.
Nevertheless, similar to virtually every Madrid player, circumstances deteriorated for Mastantuono as a combination of declining performance and fitness issues relegated him to substitute appearances until Alonso's exit in mid-January.
Mastantuono's Statistics Under Alonso
Mastantuono's Performance Data Under Alonso
Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
Games Played | 17 |
Starts | 10 |
Goals | 1 |
Assists | 1 |
What the Future Holds for Mastantuono at Real Madrid
Mastantuono's Prospects at Real Madrid Moving Forward
Arbeloa obviously assumed control of Madrid during a challenging period, inheriting a squad that was understandably struggling after a disappointing season start, a manager's departure, and considerable uncertainty about their capacity to handle the pressure of representing the club.
As one of the least experienced squad members, Mastantuono required additional emotional guidance from Arbeloa, who has enthusiastically offered the support the Argentine requires to display his finest abilities.
During the recent 2–0 victory against Villarreal, where Mastantuono was in the starting eleven, the 18-year-old appeared to return to his peak form, and his commitment on both offensive and defensive duties was particularly notable. He achieved his first two interceptions of the campaign and contributed five tackles as well, putting team success above personal glory.
Madrid supporters appreciate such dedication and Arbeloa will have observed this too. Certainly, the final output must be present, but when you're playing alongside a star-filled attacking lineup featuring Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior, a hardworking player like Mastantuono could be the perfect complement.
Former Madrid legend Ángel Di Maria, a fellow Argentina national team player, has obviously already been impressed.
"People have drawn comparisons between him and me, but he possesses far superior talent than I had and much better ball control," the winger explained to AS. "He's elite level.
"He's also faced criticism and been dismissed when results weren't favorable, similar to Xabi, but he has his entire future ahead of him. He's performing better now, getting more playing time, and he'll develop significantly, which is natural when you're surrounded by the finest players."