Real Madrid Unveils Franco Mastantuono's Shocking Jersey Number Choice
Real Madrid has announced that Franco Mastantuono will take over Gonzalo García's No. 30 jersey, the identical number the Argentine wore during his time at River Plate.
While Mastantuono signed with Los Blancos in June, he had to wait until reaching 18 years of age to be formally unveiled at Real Madrid City. The attacking player began his journey in the Spanish capital with a medical examination, followed by his inaugural comments as a Real Madrid player before unveiling his new jersey.
Though Mastantuono was anticipated to select number 25, which represents the final available first-team squad number for the 2025–26 campaign, the young talent opted for 30 instead.
Keeping number 25 available provides Real Madrid with the flexibility to acquire another player during the summer transfer period to complete their first-team roster. The club has been actively seeking midfield reinforcement, with recent connections to Manchester City's Rodri and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton.
This choice also indicates that Mastantuono is officially registered as a Real Madrid Castilla player. Real Madrid employed a comparable strategy when Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo arrived as teenagers.
The positive aspect for Real Madrid is their ability to utilize Mastantuono with the senior squad throughout the entire season. Given that the Argentine is under 23 years old, La Liga rules permit the new acquisition to play for the first team without requiring a number modification, even if he surpasses the 10-match limit that typically requires a player to adopt a number no greater than 25.
This arrangement benefits everyone involved, particularly since Mastantuono already has a connection to number 30.
"I personally requested president Florentino [Pérez] to allow me to wear number 30," he stated. "This number holds special meaning for me. I also wore it during my time at River Plate.
"This represents an incredibly special day for me. It's a dream realized both as a footballer and as an individual, joining a club like Real Madrid, the greatest in the world. I'm overjoyed, and I want to share this happiness with you because this will be a day I'll cherish forever.
"I pledge to dedicate everything to this jersey, it's the dream I've always carried."