Franco Mastantuono has been turned off. The young Argentine landed in Madrid surrounded by expectations, backed by his explosion in River Plate and with a speech inappropriate for his age: “My best version hasn’t arrived yet”. Eight months later, that version still does not appear. And what is more worrying, His presence on the team has been decreasing until it has become practically residual..
Mastantuono confesses his intimacies and defines Florentino Pérez in one word: “Imposing”
In the middle of the season, the Argentine admitted that he had not been well and He did it naturally, with self-criticism and with a serenity inappropriate for his age.. That, nowadays, is not so common. He knew that finding a place for himself would not be easy, but not even the poor performance of some of its competitors He has opened the door for him. Mastantuono has been losing ground little by little, between specific appearances and insufficient flashes to sustain himself in the eleven.
Too little to find continuity… or to demand more
Against Alavés, who added more minutes than usual, it was a true reflection of his moment. He did not shoot on goal, nor assist, nor did he give a key pass, nor did he go overboard, nor was he fine in his dribbling.. Inconstant, irregular and with the feeling that he needed an intermediate step before trying to find a place as a starter in Madrid. Something normal with a lack of regularity that would hit any footballer on the planet hard.
The lack of trust is evident. At 18 years old, the irregularity falls within the logicbut his season has fallen far below expectations: 30 games, three goals and one assist. His contribution has been as intermittent as his presence on the field. In the last two months he has not added even 90 minutes between all competitions. In the Champions League, in the qualifiers against City and Bayern, just 15 minutes. Too little to find continuity… or to demand more.
A situation that is not new
In Madrid, however, These types of situations are not new. The case is inevitably reminiscent of that of Endrick. In his first year, the Brazilian was also trapped in an impossible rotation, with no real room to grow. Only at the end did he manage to appear, but it was too late. Between injuries, lack of rhythm and direct competition, his role ended up being testimonial until he decided to leave in the winter. Today, in Lyon, He has regained prominence and now has 14 goal participations, in addition to re-entering Brazil’s orbit.
That’s why, At the club no one doubts Mastantuono’s talent, but another idea is beginning to take shape: the need for an intermediate step. A less demanding context, far from constant focus, that allows it to develop with continuity. It already happened with other young people. And it can happen again. The decision will be yours. Stay and fight for a place or leave to grow. But, given what we have seen, Madrid is now seriously contemplating a scenario that not so long ago seemed unnecessary. That of letting him go so that, one day, he can return as another player.
