Real Madrid News
River Plate begin talks with Real Madrid for Mastantuono loan deal – report
River Plate have opened formal negotiations with Real Madrid to re-sign teenage midfielder Franco Mastantuono on a season-long loan deal, according to football journalist Matteo Moretto.
The 18-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder is keen to return to his former club in Buenos Aires to secure regular playing time after a heavily disrupted debut season in Spain.
Mastantuono’s desire for a return home
Mastantuono moved to the Santiago Bernabeu from River Plate last year in a high-profile transfer. However, he struggled to secure consistent minutes in a highly competitive Real Madrid squad
The teenager accumulated just 1,484 minutes of first-team football across 35 appearances last season, often coming off the substitutes’ bench.
With competition for attacking places becoming even more difficult ahead of the new campaign, thanks to the arrival of Bernardo Silva, a temporary move away from Spain seems to be the the best step for his immediate development.
As such, Mastantuono has expressed a strong preference to return home to River Plate, where he feels comfortable with the tactical system and the environment. as he hopes to rediscover his best form and play regularly.
Real Madrid prefer European alternatives
While River Plate have launched an official approach and are actively talking to Real Madrid, a final agreement faces a major strategic obstacle.
Los Blancos have a different plan for the young midfielder’s developmental path. The Spanish club’s hierarchy would strongly prefer to send Mastantuono on loan to another top-flight team in Europe instead of letting him return to South America.
Real Madrid believe that playing for a competitive side in La Liga, the Premier League, or Serie A will help the teenager adapt much faster to the high physical and tactical demands of European football.
Several European clubs have already expressed an interest in signing Mastantuono on loan for the upcoming season.
While Real Madrid are open to a straight loan deal, they will strictly refuse any option that allows an external club to buy the player permanently.
The club still maintains absolute faith in Mastantuono’s long-term future in Spain, meaning negotiations with River Plate will continue this week to see if a compromise can be found between the player’s wishes and the club’s European preference.
Real Madrid’s performance against Real Betis was shambolic, to say the least as the team faced many of the problems that have haunted them over the past couple of years.
But on a night where most of the attackers struggled to create anything of note, Dean Huijsen emerged as a lone bright spark for Los Blancos.
Huijsen keeps his promise
As reported by MARCA, Huijsen was the standout performer for Real Madrid, marshalling the backline with real authority even as the team struggled around him.
There has been a noticeable shift in the young defender’s mentality this season, with the player showing more competitive nature and looking much fiercer.
This is an attitude Huijsen had always promised, having inherited the iconic number four shift from David Alaba, a number he associates with his idols Sergio Ramos and Fernando Hierro.
“What I do know is that I’ll give everything of myself every day, whether in training or in a game,” he vowed, and at La Cartuja he delivered on that word.
His primary task was neutralising Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernandez, and he did so superbly, drying up the Colombian’s supply and repeatedly anticipating danger.
He also held his own in a niggly battle with Antony, refusing to be ruffled by one of Betis’ most inspired performers.
His composure on the ball, one of the qualities that has elevated him, saw him venture forward, forcing a fine save from the goalkeeper in the 11th minute and later heading against the woodwork.
The Konate partnership grows
Alongside him, Ibrahima Konate did his job, albeit without matching his partner’s brilliance.
The Frenchman was a little less assured, both in and out of possession, reflecting the two speeds of the centre-back pairing.
Huijsen looks settled and increasingly commanding, while Konate is still building the sharpness needed to reach his best in white.
Nonetheless, the partnership is heading in the right direction, and in Huijsen, Real Madrid appear to have unearthed a genuine leader for an area that has long been a weakness.
Each performance is also an argument to Luis de la Fuente, as the defender looks to reclaim the Spain spot he lost before the World Cup.
