Real Madrid News
Scout who discovered Real Madrid-bound star says he always wanted Bernabeu move – ‘Has their DNA’
Franco Mastantuono, the 17-year-old sensation set to join Real Madrid, has had this dream since he was a little boy.
Daniel Brizuela, the man who first spotted Mastantuono’s talent while scouting for River Plate, recently shared with AS how the youngster always wanted to play for the Spanish giants.
Back in June 2017, Brizuela travelled to the small town of Azul in Argentina. There, he saw a nine-year-old kid who stood out not just for his football skills but also for his confidence.
That kid was Mastantuono. Even at that young age, Franco already had his eyes on one goal, which is to play at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Brizuela recalled that Mastantuono would always talk about Real Madrid. He imagined himself wearing the white shirt and playing alongside the best.
“He always liked Madrid. He saw himself playing in white. Because of his qualities, and we have talked about it many times, he would fit perfectly at the best club in the world.
“He has always thought that it would be his home in the future and has admired many players who have passed through there,” he began saying.
The Real Madrid DNA was always there
Brizuela did not just see talent in Mastantuono, he saw something special. According to him, the qualities that Real Madrid look for in a player were already present in Franco at the age of nine.
“He has the DNA of a Real Madrid player. He always has. At Real Madrid, they look for a player with special qualities, and he had them all: supreme intelligence, interpretation of the game, individual technique, ambition, and a high competitive level.
“In that field, he played as if he were at the Bernabeu.”
Brizuela also noted that, unlike most of the Argentine wonderkids who dream of playing for Barcelona, Mastantuono always had his heart set on Real Madrid.
“It is obvious that there were many Argentine children who joined Barcelona because of Messi, such as Claudio Echeverri, whom I also recruited for River.
“But Franco was always clear that he wanted to play for Real Madrid. That idea has always prevailed in his way of thinking,” he added.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid key midfielder ready to start vs Atletico Madrid after strong return from injury
Real Madrid have had a few injuries to contend with since the start of the season, with Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick all serving spells on the sidelines.
The trio are back in training now and looking to work their way into Jose Mourinho’s plans after a disrupted pre-season.
Now, according to Alberto Pereiro, Tchouameni appears to be winning the race to return to Real Madrid’s starting XI for the derby against Atletico Madrid.
The 26-year-old is said to be in the best physical condition of the players who have recently returned from injury.
Thiago Pitarch, Endrick and Tchouameni all rejoined team training last week, but the Frenchman is currently considered the most match-ready of the three.
Tchouameni ahead in the recovery race
As such, Tchouameni is now expected to start against Atletico Madrid later this week. That would be an important boost for Mourinho considering the physical nature of the game in store.
Tchouameni gives Real Madrid something very specific in midfield. He can protect the defence, compete in duels, cover large spaces and provide the kind of structure Mourinho values when matches become chaotic.
His return would also allow Real Madrid to approach the game with more balance around Federico Valverde and the attacking players ahead of them.
Mourinho has always valued his profile
Mourinho has been careful with Tchouameni’s recovery rather than rushing him back before he was fully ready.
That patience now looks set to pay off. Madrid have enough technical quality in midfield, but against Atletico, the game is unlikely to be decided by possession alone.
The ability to win second balls, close transition spaces and survive physically intense periods could be just as important.
This is exactly where Tchouameni thrives.
Pitarch and Endrick may need more time
The latest update also suggests Pitarch and Endrick are slightly behind Tchouameni in terms of physical readiness.
That does not necessarily mean either player is unavailable, but it would make sense for Mourinho to manage their minutes more cautiously. The duo are expected to be fully ready after the international break.
Pitarch still has an important role to play in a crowded midfield, while Endrick will be looking to re-establish himself in the attacking rotation after his own injury interruption.
For the derby, neither of those players is likely to be an option for the XI, but Tchouameni will definitely be a great addition.
If he does start, it would underline how highly Mourinho values him in the biggest matches. At the Metropolitano, Madrid may need Tchouameni more than anyone else, and it remains to be seen how things play out.
