Real Madrid News
On loan Real Madrid star breaks Lionel Messi’s long-standing record
Franco Mastantuono’s time at Real Madrid was anything but memorable as he suffered with poor form and fitness and never really got going as many expected him to.
The youngster thus left the club in the summer transfer window, just one season into his Real Madrid stint, and is currently on loan at Fiorentina for one season.
Los Blancos, meanwhile, have brought in Yan Diomande as a record signing to strengthen the left flank – the same position Mastantuono used to play while at the club.
A special record broken
Last night, Mastantuono started Fiorentina’s Serie A clash against Venezia which ended a 4-1 win for his side, and it was the young Argentine who played the pioneering role.
The teenage star scored thrice for his side on the night, netting a wonderful hat-trick and becoming the youngest hat-trick scorer in Fiorentina history.
A bigger and more special record that he broke on the night, however, was that of Lionel Messi.
Earlier in the night, the Barcelona legend was the youngest Argentine player to score a hat-trick in Europe’s top five leagues at 19 years and 259 days.
Mastantuono broke that last night, aged just 19 years and 28 days and is now the youngest player from his nation with a top-tier hat-trick in the top five leagues.
Real Madrid keep a watch
With Mastantuono only out on loan and still contractually bound to Real Madrid, it is clear that Los Blancos will be monitoring the player’s performances and progress closely in the coming months to make a decision on his future.
It appears difficult to see the Argentine star back in Real Madrid’s dynamics given the serious competition for the position he plays in.
After all, Arda Guler, Yan Diomande and Brahim Diaz are already competing for the spot, and Rodrygo’s arrival will only intensify that competition.
Yet, it is clear that Real Madrid will not turn a blind eye towards a player they invested so heavily in just last summer.
If the youngster can keep up performances like last night, he will put serious pressure on the club to sign him back.
Real Madrid News
Mbappe’s commitment to Real Madrid questioned amid claims he was ‘more focused on the World Cup’
Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe is always in the spotlight for one reason or another, which is common for a player of his stature.
He has found himself at the centre of fresh debate in Spain, with questions being raised over whether the French superstar is sufficiently focused on Real Madrid.
This is a criticism that has followed him quite a bit since his move to Spain, but Mbappe’s goalscoring numbers simply cannot be criticised.
Questions raised over Mbappe’s priorities
Speaking on El Partidazo de COPE, journalist Juanma Castano discussed the perception surrounding Mbappe.
He suggested that there are people who believe the forward’s priorities have not always been completely aligned with those of Madrid.
“They see him as more committed to himself than to Real Madrid,” Castano said.
The criticism then went further, with the World Cup in the summer also mentioned as a potential factor behind the perception.
“They saw him as more concerned about the World Cup than about the end of the season,” he added.
Those are serious claims to make about a leading player at Madrid whose performances on the pitch have hardly ever dipped.
A serious accusation at Real Madrid
Nothing in Castano’s comments proves that Mbappe deliberately placed France or his personal objectives ahead of Madrid.
Mbappe’s quality is beyond question, and his importance to Mourinho’s attack makes him one of the players Madrid can least afford to have surrounded by doubts over commitment.
The Frenchman was suffering from a knee injury in the second half of last season. This kept him out of action for a few weeks.
Mbappe returned in style at the World Cup, winning the Golden Boot and obliterating all kinds of goalscoring records.
He has since continued in the same vein at the beginning of the season for Mourinho’s team and has been one of La Liga’s best attackers.
Mbappe’s best answer has to come on the pitch
Ultimately, this is the kind of debate Mbappe can shut down himself, not with words but with his performances on the pitch.
Madrid do not need their biggest star to abandon his ambitions with France. They need him to ensure complete commitment to the club when he wears Madrid white, and he has not given them any reason to doubt that.
The Frenchman will continue to be held to very high standards compared to some other players. He is currently recovering from injury and will hope to return to action soon.
It remains to be seen how Mbappe fares for the rest of the season and whether he can play a starring role in bringing silverware back to the Santiago Bernabeu.
