Although he hasn't worn the white jersey yet, at Real Madrid they already consider Franco Mastantuono as part of the club. The talented 17-year-old Millonario youth player has everything ready to arrive in Spain, and the anticipation is such that even Florentino Pérez couldn't contain his excitement. The president of the most powerful club in the world broke his silence in private, but his words ended up coming to light and caused a stir.
Through a direct message to Oscar Ruggeri, with whom he has had a relationship for years, Real Madrid's president expressed his excitement about Mastantuono's signing. "We're delighted with Franco and eager for him to come as soon as possible," read Sebastián Vignolo live, reproducing the conversation during the television program.
Ruggeri recibió un mensaje directo de Florentino Pérez
Everything happened during an F90 broadcast on ESPN, when Ruggeri shared on air what seemed to be a private conversation. However, by showing his phone to the host, the cameras captured something much more significant: Florentino Pérez's first concrete statement about Mastantuono, expressed in a WhatsApp message. The phrase "as soon as possible" set off alarms at River, since it suggests that the transfer could be moved up.
Meanwhile, Daniel Arcucci, another journalist on the program, quickly highlighted the significance of what was revealed: "It's information," he emphasized. Although it was expected that the young player would leave after the Club World Cup, that explicit desire to bring forward his arrival could change the timeline. The Spanish club has already invested 60 million dollars for his transfer (45 million plus taxes) and would be willing to speed everything up to have him in Europe as soon as possible.
Latorre's opinion
Mastantuono's departure also sparked emotional reactions. One of those who expressed his regret was Diego Latorre, who from the same channel offered a critical view of how quickly Argentine clubs lose their young talents. "It's a shame that a boy whom Argentine football enjoys every Sunday has to leave so quickly," said the former player.
Latorre lamentó la partida temprana de Mastantuono
However, his analysis did not stop at emotion. Latorre also expressed reservations about the background of the operation: "My fear is that they bought him to overshadow Lamine Yamal or because of a businessman's decision. I don't know if the coach asked for him," he stated.
He also warned that Mastantuono is still in the development process and that the transfer might have been rushed. "We're rushing things with him, to put it into words," he concluded, leaving a concern shared by many hanging in the air.
