Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s plans to integrate teenage new signing over the next month – report
Franco Mastantuono’s journey as a River Plate player came to an end this week as the Argentine giants were eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup group stage.
River Plate were able to secure only four points from their three matches, notably losing to Inter Milan in their final game.
That means Mastantuono has already played his final game for River Plate. But while one would expect him to immediately join the Real Madrid camp, the reality could be entirely different.
Mastantuono to join Real Madrid after August 14
According to AS, Real Madrid won’t take any risks with Mastantuono as far as his registration is concerned.
By law, Mastantuono is ineligible to join Real Madrid until he turns 18. This is a strict policy Real Madrid have followed with previous South American talents such as Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Endrick.
Since Mastantuono has an Italian passport, he won’t take up any non-EU spot. However, Real Madrid are not willing to take any risks.
Therefore, the Argentine prodigy will only be able to officially sign and train with the first team on August 14, his 18th birthday.
Until then, he is not permitted to use the club’s Valdebebas training facilities. The plan is for the youngster to take a couple of weeks of active rest before moving to Madrid at the end of July to settle into his new home.
In the two weeks leading up to his birthday, he will undertake a personalized training program, working alone but under the remote supervision of Real Madrid’s coaching staff.
This will focus on the physical side of his game to help him adapt to the higher intensity of European football.
Xabi Alonso is already a big fan of the Argentine starlet and it will be interesting to see how he integrates into the Real Madrid setup.
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.
