Since the golden era of ‘La Maquina’, River Plate has had a knack for producing majestic stars of their own.
The long-standing issues surrounding Argentinian football, which has been undermined by financial woe, violence, and corruption for decades, means the country’s best rarely get to blossom in their homeland.
Europe represents an escape for Argentina’s brightest, and River have lost out, but made plenty, on a litany of superstars. The great South American club has helped hone the talents of Hernan Crespo, Gonzalo Higuain, and Javier Mascherano, as well as Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and Chelsea’s £107m man Enzo Fernandez, to name a mere few.
The next big thing is seemingly never too far away in River’s academy, and the club’s latest generation of starlets are garnering plenty of buzz. 16-year-old Franco Mastantuono is the latest to drown European transfer rumour mills after signing a lucrative contract extension with River.
Here’s everything you need to know about the teenager.
Mastantuono in action at the 2023 U17 World Cup / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages
The teenager has been on River Plate’s books since 2019 having started his youth career at the age of three with local club River de Azul.
Mastantuono was born in Azul, located 300km south of Buenos Aires, and spent much of his youth with his local club before he signed for Club Cemento in 2018. His time there was brief, however, as one of Argentina’s behemoths snooped and swooped. The youngster had previously rejected River’s advances in order to pursue a tennis career.
After relinquishing his dream of becoming the next Juan Martin del Potro, Mastantuono has progressed through River’s academy and at 16, is regarded as one of the club’s brightest prospects. The teenage sensation became River’s third youngest-ever player when he made his senior debut in January 2024 and subsequently became their youngest-ever goalscorer a month later. Mastantuono found the net in a 3-0 Copa Argentina win over Excursionistas – breaking Javier Saviola’s 25-year record.
The Argentine starlet also featured at the 2023 Under-17 World Cup and has previously trained with Javier Mascherano’s Under-20s.
Franco Mastantuono’s strengths
The 16-year-old is a proficient ball carrier / Marcelo Endelli/GettyImages
Mastantuono certainly hasn’t garnered his plaudits for no reason. The teenager is a silky operator who combines the vintage and contemporary attributes of an archetypal playmaker.
He’s incredibly elegant in possession and capable of striding beyond opponents without breaking a sweat. However, while he’s impressive retaining the ball under pressure, Mastantuono’s mature spatial awareness means the number of physical duels he competes in are limited. He’s always trying to find space and outwit opponents with subtle feints.
Not only can he occupy dangerous pockets of space between the lines, but he also doesn’t mind running a channel or two to penetrate in behind. His supreme left foot means opponents can ill-afford to surrender too much space to the youngster, who is a distinct threat from set pieces in and around the box.
Having previously captained Argentina and River Plate youth teams, many have also commended Mastantuono’s attitude, mentality, and leadership abilities. The playmaker leads from the front and sets an example with his work out of possession.
The kid’s 16, he’s not going to be the full package just yet.
There’s plenty to like about Mastantuono, but there are a few areas for improvement. The crafty creator is pretty tall at 5’11, and his continuing physical development means his frame shouldn’t be an issue for a player of his profile. Right now, though, Mastantuono can appear undersized against more seasoned opponents and he struggles in duels.
More notably, the 16-year-old is heavily reliant on his wonderful left foot and seemingly seeks to avoid using his weaker right as much as possible. This means he has a tendency to constantly drift infield when operating from the right side of the pitch.
Moreover, for all his dazzling talent, Mastantuono is not yet a final third killer. He’s perhaps not a player who’ll sparkle with his output, but one who can have a huge influence on a game with his ability to bypass pressure, carry possession upfield, and float into dangerous pockets of space.
Franco Mastantuono’s best position
Argentina’s fated ‘enganche’ typifies the ideals of la nuestra. From Beto Alonso to Pablo Aimar, River Plate have produced some of the country’s most celebrated playmakers, and Mastantuono certainly has elements of the archetypal ‘enganche’.
This role – essentially just an attacking midfielder or ‘number ten’ – has drifted out of fashion thanks to the prominence of pressing and the 4-3-3. While Mastantuono is capable of functioning as a silky playmaker between the lines, there are more strings to the 16-year-old’s bow.
He looks comfortable when drifting off the right flank, and some coaches have suggested he could even operate in a forward position thanks to his supreme ball-striking. For now, he’s most at ease when functioning between the lines, but he might have to subtly redefine himself – whether that be as a box-to-box midfielder or even a false nine – should he secure a big move to Europe.
Claudio Echeverri agreed to join Manchester City in January / Hernan Cortez/GettyImages
There are direct comparisons to Claudio Echeverri, who’s two years Mastantuono’s senior and likes to operate from similar zones in the opposition’s half. The 16-year-old will be expected to fill Echeverri’s boots when he departs for Manchester City.
Mastantuono’s left-footed preference means Lionel Messi comparisons will never be too far away. Admittedly, there are times when the teenager embarks on speedy shaloms which look eerily similar to a young Messi. However, let’s not put too much pressure on the boy, eh?
Julian Alvarez is another point of reference seeing as he developed at River before moving onto City. While Alvarez was regarded as an out-and-out nine in Argentina, Mastantuono is similarly proficient as a sharpshooter. The teenager says he models his game on Alvarez, who’s right-footed, as well as Ignacio Fernandez and Matias Suarez.
Messi, you won’t be surprised to hear, is his idol and that’s why he wears the #30 shirt at River.
Who wants to sign Franco Mastantuono?
🚨🔴⚪️ River Plate have agreed new deal with top talent Franco Mastantuono (2007).
Top European clubs are already following him but the new deal is 100% done until December 2026, as per @CLMerlo. 🇦🇷
👀 Release clause: €45m, up to €50m just 10 days before end of the window. pic.twitter.com/Uf2qRzXOMJ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 18, 2024
After Echeverri agreed to join City in January for a poultry £12.5m, River are set to make it harder for Europe’s elite to prise Mastantuono away from Argentina.
The 16-year-old recently signed a bumper contract extension with River which includes the highest-ever release clause in Argentinian football (€45m).
Clubs are unlikely to be deterred, though, with Mastantuono already catching the eye of many. Real Madrid are reportedly interested, as are PSG, Barcelona, and both Manchester clubs. If the playmaker fancies a bridge move to one of the continent’s elite, he could follow Enzo’s path and join Benfica, who also boast an interest.
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