Real Madrid Joins Race for River Plate's Mastantuono

River Plate's 17-year-old midfielder Franco Mastantuono is attracting strong interest from top European clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid, following his impressive performances in Argentina. Mastantuono, now River Plate's youngest-ever goalscorer with three goals and two assists this season, is under contract until at least 2026 with a €45 million (€38m) release clause, the highest in the club's history. River Plate is not under financial pressure to sell and remains determined to keep him, with the club insisting the release clause be paid in full. Atletico Madrid has sent scouts to watch Mastantuono, and he is set to play in the upcoming Superclasico against Boca Juniors at the expanded Monumental Stadium, which is expected to host a record crowd. Mastantuono is often compared to Phil Foden for his versatility and technical skills, and his development is closely watched as he follows the path of successful River Plate alumni like Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez. Despite European interest, Mastantuono's future remains undecided as River Plate seeks to retain their talented prodigy.