Real Madrid News
Real Madrid teenage gem nearing loan exit after omission from squad list to face Fiorentina
Franco Mastantuono is on the verge of leaving Real Madrid on loan after being left out of Jose Mourinho’s squad for Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Fiorentina in Austria, reports AS.
While Dean Huijsen misses the trip through injury and Antonio Rudiger continues to build his fitness, Mastantuono’s absence has a different explanation.
According to sources at the club, the Argentine has remained in Madrid because a temporary move is now considered imminent.
No clear path for regular minuges
Mastantuono has struggled to establish himself since arriving from River Plate last summer. Although he featured regularly during the early part of last season under Xabi Alonso, his role gradually diminished.
He finished his debut campaign with around 1,500 minutes across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing one assist, a modest return for a player who cost Real Madrid more than €60 million.
Increased competition accelerates exit
The outlook for this season became even more challenging as Madrid strengthened the squad during the summer.
The arrival of Bernardo Silva has increased competition for attacking midfield positions, while the expected signing of Yan Diomande would further reduce Mastantuono’s chances of earning consistent playing time under Jose Mourinho.
Both the player and the club believe a loan move offers the best opportunity for his development, allowing him to play regularly while continuing his adaptation to European football.
Italy leading the race
Mastantuono’s next destination has not yet been confirmed, but several clubs remain interested.
Italian sides appear to be leading the race, with Fiorentina, AS Roma and AC Milan all having explored the possibility of signing the Argentine on loan.
In England, Fulham have also expressed interest after manager Alvaro Arbeloa identified Mastantuono as a player he would like to add to his squad.
A return to River Plate was discussed but has been ruled out by Real Madrid, who believe continuing his development in one of Europe’s top leagues is the best path for fulfilling the potential that prompted the club to invest heavily in him last year.
It now seems only a matter of time before Mastantuono’s loan exit is finalised.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
