Franco Mastantuono, a 17-year-old midfielder, is becoming one of Argentina’s brightest stars at River Plate. He made his first appearance for the Argentina senior team against Chile, coming on in the 84th minute during a 1-0 victory, and he became the youngest player ever to play for Argentina in an official match. His great performances have caught a lot of attention, with Real Madrid seeing him as an important target for their midfield, especially as they search for a quick replacement after Luka Modric, making him a valuable player for the team.
Real Madrid and River Plate have settled on a transfer fee of around €45 million, with some reports saying this matches his release clause. The details of the fee are still being worked out, and it might include some extra payments. Fabrizio Romano, a trusted source for transfer news, confirmed the deal, mentioning a $45 million fee and a six-year contract until 2031. beIN Sports initially reported a $65 million fee, which seems to be an outlier and might include extra clauses that aren’t mentioned in other reports.
🚨🤍 BREAKING: Franco Mastantuono to Real Madrid, here we go! Argentinian top talent will join Madrid on six year deal.
$45m fee to be paid in installments. ⭐️🇦🇷
Formal steps to follow next week with River Plate now asking for Franco to play Club World Cup then leave in August. pic.twitter.com/PDgYV3u6g2
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 8, 2025
Mastantuono is expected to join Real Madrid in August 2025, right after he turns 18 on August 14, 2025. This schedule follows FIFA rules about transferring young players internationally, and he is set to play for River Plate in the Club World Cup in the United States before finishing his transfer.
