Franco Mastantuono Reveals He Turned Down European Powerhouses to Chase Real Madrid Dream
Franco Mastantuono has revealed he held discussions with Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique prior to choosing to join Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.
Mastantuono was officially presented as a Real Madrid signing this week, facing the media at the Santiago Bernabéu. The 18-year-old was questioned about the decision-making journey that brought him to Spain's capital from River Plate in Argentina.
Madrid faced competition for Mastantuono's services, with PSG also pursuing the young talent.
"It's accurate that several clubs showed interest in me, which I greatly value," the young player stated.
"I had the opportunity to speak with Luis Enrique. He was very direct with me, I'm grateful and I congratulate him on the victory [in the UEFA Super Cup]. He's an excellent manager, I have complete respect and gratitude for him."
A crucial element in selecting Real Madrid over PSG, or other suitors, was the trust and belief that new head coach Xabi Alonso demonstrated in him.
"He reached out to me. It was extremely significant that the manager expressed such faith in me. Naturally it was a personal discussion, but it greatly impacted me. It provided me with tremendous confidence, and his approach meant everything," Mastantuono shared.
Despite a €45 million ($52.6 million) transfer cost, Mastantuono has been initially assigned to Real Madrid Castilla, the club's reserve team. This mirrors the approach taken when signing Martin Ødegard, Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo as young prospects previously and maintains the possibility of first-team involvement.
This arrangement doesn't exclude Mastantuono from senior team appearances this season—players under 23 years old face no restrictions on matches before requiring main squad registration. However, it provides greater adaptability and permits the youngster to retain the No. 30 jersey he wore at River Plate, which La Liga prohibits for players with senior team status.