Franco Mastantuono, the forward, entered this summer with significant uncertainty surrounding his future at Real Madrid. The club was exploring options to loan him out to gain regular playing time and continue his adaptation to European football. However, new coach Jose Mourinho expressed interest in evaluating him during preseason training before making any decisions.
As the preseason unfolds, it appears increasingly likely that the Argentine will not remain with Los Blancos for the upcoming season, with a summer departure seeming imminent. Recently, there have been talks linking him to a return to Argentina, where his former club River Plate is interested in signing him on loan.
Despite this, Real Madrid has ruled out any transfer outside of Europe, as they believe it’s crucial for his development to remain in competitive leagues. Consequently, Italy is emerging as a potential destination, with reports from MARCA indicating that three clubs, namely Fiorentina, AC Milan, and Napoli, have expressed interest.
Fiorentina has already reached out to Real Madrid with intentions, while the other two clubs have shown past interest as well. The decision regarding which club he will join hinges on which team offers him the chance to play primarily as a No. 10—a position none of his coaches at Real Madrid have utilized him in thus far.
While a decision is not expected immediately, it is likely that Real Madrid will exclude him from their squad for upcoming friendly matches to avoid any risks. Hopefully, Franco Mastantuono will find the right club for his next step and seize the opportunity to return to Real Madrid as a more seasoned player next year.