Announced close to Paris SG, and despite his discussion with Luis Enrique, Franco Mastanuono (17) is committed to Real Madrid for the next six years. An arrival in Spain to which Martín Demichelis, his former coach on the side of River Plate, was expecting in the daily AS.
It is a failure that the PSG could regret in the years to come. While the European champion thought of welcoming a new crack to the person of the person in his ranks Franco Mastantuonothe latter finally gave in to the advances of Real Madrid, who came into this dossier at the last minute. The 17 -year -old attacking midfielder, hitherto evolving to River Platewill therefore play alongside Kylian Mbappédespite having been convinced by the speech of Luis Enrique to begin with.
His former coach remembers his hatching
Attached to Real Madrid, Franco Mastantuono So retracted and signed for six seasons with the Merengue training. A choice that does not surprise Martín Demichelishis former coach to River Platequestioned by daily life AS. « In 2023, during my first year on the River bench, I never stopped hearing the name of Mastantuono. I even knew the players of the U-17 team, but Franco was still playing below and I had never seen him play or train. I sent someone to whom I trusted, Edgardo Sbrissa, see him. On his return, he told me that what was said about him was not true, because he was even better than that. The next day, in October of that year, we summoned him for training and he immediately dazzled me “Recalls the Argentinian, who had predicted the excitement around his future and his future signature at the Real Madrid.
“I told them that Franco would play for Madrid”
« I spoke to the leaders of River to give them news and advice. I met the president, Jorge Brito, the vice-president, Matías Patanian, and the sports director, Enzo Francescoli. I asked them what was Franco's situation in the club and they told me that they were quiet because he was under contract. Claudio Echeverri had just been sold in Manchester City and the supporters were furious at this premature sale. They didn't want the next diamond to go tooconfides Martín Demichelis. His clause? I don't know if I was told five or ten million. It was then that I had to tell them the truth. I told them that he was going to do his debut the following weekend and that they had to increase this amount urgently. I told them that Franco was not only going to be a star to River, but that he was a player for Real Madrid. I made them understand that it would be much more than the 25 million paid by City for Echeverri. I told them that Franco would play for Madrid. Then, they had the opportunity to raise the clause to 45 million, which is very meritorious because the agents do not accept such high figures to quickly sell their players. It was seen in what he showed training. Such talent is rare. Let me tell you something else that fascinates me. When I tightened Franco in my arms the last day in River, I said to him: “The next time I will see you, it will be when I go to see you play in the Real Madrid jersey”. A prediction just since Friday.
