River Plate pushes for Mastantuono return; Real Madrid favors European loan

Hupu Football News | July 29th — According to Argentine media outlet TyC, River Plate has reached an agreement with Vélez Sarsfield for the transfer of rising star Tobías Andrada and now hopes to secure one more major signing to close out the summer transfer window. Their current target is Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono, who is pushing for a return to River Plate.

Mastantuono's Situation at Real Madrid

The left-footed midfielder had an inconsistent season last year, experiencing spells under both Xabi Alonso and Raúl. He is now not considered a key player in José Mourinho's squad. Although the Portuguese coach gave him playing time in two pre-season friendlies—and Mastantuono scored in Real Madrid's 4-1 victory over Leganés—he remains outside the team's main plans for next season.

Now 18 years old, Mastantuono has made 35 appearances for Real Madrid, starting 17 times, scoring 3 goals, and providing no assists. In Mourinho's pecking order, he trails several star players. Additionally, Bernardo Silva, who recently joined from Manchester City, can also play in the same position, further intensifying internal competition.

Real Madrid's Loan Strategy

Real Madrid wants Mastantuono to continue adapting to the high-intensity pace of European football and gain consistent playing time at another club. However, the club is only considering a loan move—without any option or obligation to buy. Florentino Pérez's management previously paid around €60 million for the young player and is not prepared to give up on him easily.

Interest from Other Clubs

Several clubs are interested in Mastantuono, including:

• Villarreal
• Fiorentina
• Benfica
• Fulham

Mastantuono holds Italian citizenship, so joining Fiorentina would pose no identity-related obstacles. Raúl has also been involved in promoting a potential loan. Meanwhile, River Plate has not given up on bringing him back to Argentina.

River Plate's Appeal vs. Real Madrid's Preference

Compared to other options, River Plate is more attractive to Mastantuono. It is the club he has supported since childhood and the destination most capable of convincing the young midfielder. As a result, he has begun pressuring his surrounding team to make a return to River Plate a reality.

However, Real Madrid currently does not intend to let Mastantuono return to Argentine football. The club prefers him to stay in Europe's top five leagues, where they can closely monitor his performance while allowing him to accumulate playing time and confidence at a team with high ambitions. Previously, Endrick was loaned to Marseille, and Nico Paz joined Como in Italy. Real Madrid hopes to adopt a similar development approach for Mastantuono.

Outlook

At this stage, Mastantuono's return to River Plate remains more of a dream than an imminent transfer. Like the earlier rumors linking Ángel Correa with River Plate, this potential deal is expected to see further developments. Mastantuono wants to leave Real Madrid and score again at the Monumental, but the player's wishes alone are not enough to facilitate the transfer.

Source: TyC Sports