The young player became the third-youngest foreigner to play for Merengue and delivered a promising performance in the victory over Osasuna
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Santiago Bernabéu was the stage for a historic day for Franco Mastantuono. At just 18 years old, the former River player made his official debut for Real Madrid, becoming the third-youngest foreign footballer to wear the white jersey. He entered the match in the second half of the 1-0 victory against Osasuna, on the opening day of LaLiga in Spain.
Beyond the mere 23 minutes he played, Mastantuono left a positive impression: he asked for the ball, took on defenders, took a corner kick, and even created a clear chance with a left-footed shot that forced the opposing goalkeeper to make a save. His composure caught the attention of the fans and also of the coach himself, Xabi Alonso, who made his official debut on the Madrid bench.
Mastantuono jugó 23 minutos frente al Osasuna
In the press conference, the coach did not hesitate to praise him: "Mastantuono was not weighed down by the jersey or by stepping onto the Bernabéu. He had a solid performance".
The coach explained why he decided to give him minutes in such a special context: "He looks the part, doesn't he? I already saw what he could contribute. He hadn't been able to train much with us, but sometimes the emotional aspect matters more than what has been worked on. He made a good impact and it's good news that he made his debut"
Xabi destacó la actuación de Mastantuono
The young player born in Azul, Argentina, came on down the right side but with the freedom to move across the entire attacking front. He showed personality and confidence, traits that had stood out since his arrival at the club and that convinced Alonso to give him playing time even without much tactical work accumulated.
This way, Mastantuono is beginning to write his first pages at Real Madrid, in a debut that not only marked his personal history but also left positive signs for the immediate future.
