Franco Mastantuono, the new Argentine talent that Xabi Alonso and Luis Enrique called upon.

Real Madrid hadn't had an Argentine player in their squad for 11 years, no less than since Ángel Di María left in 2014. A surprising statistic for a club refounded by Alfredo di Stéfano, whose Argentine colony is the second largest in its history. With the arrival of Franco Mastantuono this Thursday, there are now 29 Argentine players, two fewer than Brazil, the great white extraction well of the last decade in the world. During this period, while the Bernabéu remained in the Argentine fallow land, players of all kinds arrived from the Canarinha territory: Lucas Silva, Danilo, Vinicius, Reinier , Rodrygo, Militão, and Endrick.

With his platinum-blond hair cut short, this confident and, at least in his public debut, serene young man took over the shirt. “I'm an attacking footballer, left-footed, almost always on the right,” he explained in the press room. A brief description of what he said about himself during the last Club World Cup, while still under River Plate's ownership. “I feel more like a forward. As a kid, I always played as a playmaker, but now I play in a more offensive role, attacking from the right. I've always liked finishing more than passing. I prefer scoring, although it's also nice to assist. In my position, I need both to be a more complete player,” he explained at the time in the United States. “I'll be in whatever position the coach decides. Yes, I'm more used to playing on the right, but also inside,” he insisted this Thursday at Valdebebas.

The cost of his signing ( €63.2 million, including the €45 million release clause and additional expenses, as detailed by his former club when it was made official) places him among the ten most expensive players at Madrid, which raises expectations for this youngster, whom Xabi Alonso called upon to secure his arrival. “It was very important for me that the coach showed that confidence. It meant a lot,” said Mastantuono, who will wear the number 30 shirt at his own request, as he did at River Plate, and will currently play for the first team while signed by Castilla. This circumstance is no small feat, as it allows the club to still have a free player two weeks before the transfer window closes.

Madrid and Alonso won the day with this new talent over other suitors. For example, PSG, as the player himself admitted. “It's true that several teams were interested in me. My utmost respect to them. I was lucky enough to speak with Luis Enrique. He was very clear with me. I thank him and congratulate him on last night's victory [in the European Super Cup],” the Argentine stated concisely but clearly.

“The best player in the world is Messi”

The youngster arrived in Madrid a few days ago, waiting to reach the age of majority and sign his contract at Valdebebas. Although the official details and figures of the deal were announced two months ago, Chamartín opted to wait until the striker turned 18 before adding him to the squad. "I'm eager to join the team now," he admitted.

After 64 matches, 10 goals, and seven assists in the year and a half he played for River Plate, Franco Mastantuono faces the European leap, a difficult process in some cases. “We have to wait until we start training [this Friday] and then I'll know better,” he said about adapting to the speed of the old continent. “I think I'm ready for this first stage to be easy. In La Liga, I really like the positional and tactical play. I think that can help me. The pace in Europe is higher. I hope I can get in quickly.”

At the beginning of June, he became the youngest debutant for the Argentine national team in an official match (17 years, nine months, and 22 days, against Chile), and this Thursday he made no secret that the 2026 World Cup is his "dream and goal." Messi could be there, and he boasted about his patriotic pride. "The best player in the world is Messi . I'm Argentine," the striker concluded. A very mature young man, according to Xabi Alonso, who is entering the volcano.