Real Madrid News
Confirmed: Real Madrid teenage prodigy secures Serie A loan move
Real Madrid have officially confirmed that Franco Mastantuono has left the club to sign for Fiorentina on a season-long loan deal.
“Real Madrid CF and ACF Fiorentina have agreed to the loan of player Franco Mastantuono until the end of next season, June 30, 2027,” the club statement read.
Mastantuono joined Real Madrid last summer, arriving from River Plate in a massive deal worth €63 million.
At just 18 years old, the versatile attacking midfielder started positively under Xabi Alonso before injuries and competition for places saw him lose his prominence as the season progressed.
Comunicado Oficial: Mastantuono.
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 7, 2026
While Mastantuono returned to pre-season this summer to convince new manager Jose Mourinho, the signings of Bernardo Silva and Yan Diomande meant that the Argentine prodigy would not stand to play much.
As such, it was decided that he would leave the club on loan for the upcoming season. A move back to River Plate was considered by the player, but Real Madrid made it clear that they want him to continue his development in Europe.
Mastantuono had no shortage of suitors across Europe, but in the end he has opted to sign for Fiorentina, where he will spend the next year on loan.
Notably, Real Madrid made it clear that they would not include any buy option in the deal as they retain full faith in Mastantuono and his long-term potential.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid superstar’s summer contract renewal saga compared to a romantic movie: ‘We know how the movie will end’
Vinicius Junior’s contract renewal with Real Madrid was one of the club’s biggest stories of the summer.
Months of uncertainty eventually ended in a long-term agreement that keeps the Brazilian at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2032.
At one point, it looked like the prospect of the Brazilian leaving the Santiago Bernabeu this summer was a realistic possibility.
However, as quoted by MARCA, Thiago Freitas, operations director at Roc Nation, has compared the entire saga to a romantic film with a happy ending.
Vinicius renewal was far from straightforward
Freitas explained that the negotiations were handled by Roc Nation executive Federico Pena and admitted that reaching the final agreement required patience from everyone involved.
“This operation between Vini and Real Madrid was like a trilogy of romance movies,” Freitas said.
“Throughout the movies there are conflicts, there are issues, there are some obstacles. But we all know how the movie will end: with a big kiss and everyone happy,” he added.
There was plenty of speculation around Vinicius while negotiations continued, particularly as the process stretched across the summer.
However, Freitas made it clear that the Brazilian’s preference was always to continue at Real Madrid rather than look for an exit.
“You only have to remember the history of all the players who have passed through Madrid in the last 20 or 30 years. None of them wanted to leave,” he said.
That is an important point for Madrid supporters. The difficulty appears to have been reaching an agreement that satisfied both sides, rather than convincing Vinicius that his future belonged at the club.
Jose Mourinho now has certainty
For Jose Mourinho, the first few weeks were spent in uncertainty over whether Vinicius would be part of his project at the club.
The Portuguese tactician has always been a vocal advocate of keeping the Brazilian and was said to have been a driving factor in the contract negotiations.
Ultimately, as Freitas put it, everything ended in a big hug and a kiss between Vinicius and Real Madrid. It meant that everyone, except Arsenal were happy.
It remains to be seen whether the 26-year-old can now repay the club and Mourinho’s faith in him, and return to his best level this season and beyond.
