Real Madrid Star Faces Identical Injury Nightmare That's Haunting Lamine Yamal
Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that young forward Franco Mastantuono has been diagnosed with a hernia injury that will keep him out of action for an unspecified duration.
Having joined the Santiago Bernabéu in August after turning 18, following his participation in the summer's Club World Cup with his previous club River Plate, Mastantuono has rapidly become Xabi Alonso's go-to choice for the right-wing position.
The Argentine youngster rarely plays complete matches, usually being substituted during the second half, but has been included in the starting eleven seven times out of 11 La Liga fixtures, relegating the more experienced Rodrygo to a substitute role thus far.
However, Mastantuono, who had previously pulled out of October international commitments with Argentina, is now facing a spell on the sidelines. Real Madrid's official announcement provided no timeline for his expected return, stating only that medical personnel will assess his recovery.
Professional athletes typically heal from hernias more quickly than average individuals, though it will still require Mastantuono to rest and gradually return to physical activity.
This is the identical problem that has affected Barcelona's 18-year-old talent Lamine Yamal recently, causing the Spain international to miss five matches in a six-game period for Barcelona during September and October. There are worries that Yamal might need surgical intervention for an issue that continues to trouble him.
Real Madrid, according to reports, are expressing "optimism" regarding Mastantuono's condition, as reported by AS. Properly addressing this ailment, also called pubalgia, at this stage is crucial to prevent it from developing into a chronic long-term issue.
Mastantuono Unavailable vs. Liverpool, Opportunity Arises for Rodrygo
Mastantuono will definitely be absent for this week's Champions League clash against Liverpool at Anfield, which represents a disappointment for him to miss such a high-profile fixture so early in his professional journey.
Alonso will be missing one of his most relied-upon players this season, but this situation offers Rodrygo an opportunity to regain the position he has surrendered.
Before Carlo Ancelotti modified the formation to incorporate Jude Bellingham's arrival in 2023, and then faced additional competition from Kylian Mbappé's signing in 2024, Rodrygo was delivering his finest performances as Real Madrid's first-choice right winger. Even with Alonso employing a 4-3-3 system, the Brazilian has struggled to secure regular playing time in his preferred role due to Mastantuono's emergence.
While there is competition for the spot from Brahim Díaz, this represents a potential chance for Rodrygo to gain match experience and essentially demonstrate his worth once more.