Franco Mastantuono, a 17-year-old midfielder from River Plate, is one of the greatest prospects in Argentine football today
Real Madrid agreed to pay a million-dollar fine and signed midfielder Franco Mastantuono from River Plate. At 17 years old, the youngster is considered the greatest jewel in Argentine football today and has drawn comparisons with one of the greatest in history: attacking midfielder Lionel Messi from Inter Miami.
According to the Spanish and Argentine press, the club led by Florentino Pérez will pay 40 million euros (R$255.59 million at the current exchange rate), the amount of the fine to terminate Mastantuono’s contract with River.
In addition, Real Madrid agreed to pay the taxes involved in the transaction – something that Los Blancos have already done, for example, in the negotiation that took center forward Endrick from Palmeiras. The youngster is River Plate’s top scorer this season, with seven goals, and was attracting interest from other European giants, such as Paris Saint-Germain.
However, Real Madrid went all in and went to Argentina to close the deal this week. The transfer, however, will not be immediate. He will play for River in the Club World Cup, a competition that will be held between June and July in the United States. He is expected to be presented to his new club on August 15, one day after he turns 18, according to the Argentine newspaper Olé.
