Real Madrid News
Villarreal emerge as leading candidate to sign Real Madrid prodigy on loan amid widespread interest
Franco Mastantuono could spend next season away from Real Madrid, with a loan move increasingly viewed as the most likely outcome for the highly-rated Argentine wonderkid.
Although Jose Mourinho wants to assess the 18-year-old during pre-season before making a final decision, the Spanish capital club have long been working under the assumption that he will continue his development elsewhere.
A permanent departure has never been considered. Real Madrid invested €63.2 million to sign Mastantuono last summer and have no intention of losing control of one of their most valuable prospects.
The Argentine remains under contract until 2031, and any move this summer would only be on a straightforward loan deal, without purchase clauses or options that could weaken Madrid’s grip on his future.
Europe remains the priority
Once it became clear that Real Madrid were open to sending Mastantuono out on loan, interest quickly arrived from across Europe and South America, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Inter Milan, Sporting CP, Tottenham Hotspur, Benfica, and Stade Rennais have all explored the possibility of signing the youngster.
Meanwhile, the teenage gem’s former club, River Plate, have also shown a strong interest.
However, Real Madrid’s priorities are clear. The club want Mastantuono to remain in Europe and preferably join a side competing in the Champions League.
With those conditions in mind, several candidates have already fallen behind in the race.
Villarreal in pole position
Indeed, as per the report, Villarreal currently lead the chase for the Argentine attacking midfielder.
The Yellow Submarine meet Real Madrid’s requirements, offering the prospect of Champions League football and a competitive environment in which Mastantuono could receive regular minutes.
The arrangement would also see Los Blancos cover half of the player’s wages, making the operation financially manageable for the La Liga club.
For now, no final decision has been made, and Mourinho’s assessment during pre-season could still influence events.
But as things stand, Villarreal appear to be the strongest candidates to secure Mastantuono’s services.
If the deal goes through, one of Real Madrid and South America’s brightest talents could remain in La Liga next season, continuing his development while wearing the colours of Villarreal.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
