Franco Mastantuono Could Be The Next Star For Argentina

Signing a player for any club is always presented as a big achievement. However, extending a contract does not attract as many eyeballs unless the player involved is among the top ones at the club. However, if you’re 16 and in the limelight for having extended your contract, then you can surely be called one of the best young talents in football, and this is what Franco Mastantuono actually is

In fact, despite not making a single appearance for the senior team, the teenager has found his place on the transfer wishlist of several top European clubs. After Argentina’s World Cup win in Qatar, there has been an increased interest in players from the league.

There is Independiente star Santiago Hidalgo, who is compared to Antoine Griezmann. Meanwhile, others like Maximo Perrone and Matias Soule have already earned themselves a move across the Atlantic. And sooner or later, Franco Mastantuono will join the bandwagon.

So, who is Franco Mastantuono, and how good is he?

Who is Franco Mastantuono

Born in Azul, 300 kilometres south of Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, Mastantuono’s journey in sports began when he was just three. However, when he was young, his aspiration was to make his name in another field: tennis. In fact, the first few years of his youth career were spent deciding which sport was better for him to take up full-time.

Even as late as 2017, this dilemma was affecting the youngsters. He was playing for the local club River Azul when he was spotted by River Plate scouts, who praised him and prompted the club to offer him a membership. He, however, opted to reject the offer to focus on tennis.

Two years later, though, he had made up his mind. If his career had to go forward, it was in football. River Plate was more than happy to get their target, albeit two years late.

Mastantuono had now decided on his sports, which allowed him to blossom quickly into one of the best players in the youth system. For the next four years, he progressed through various age groups.

However, his big break only came in 2024, and this was largely due to English champions Manchester City. Despite Mastantuono being extremely talented, another young sensation, Claudio Echeverri, blocked his path to the first team.

That all changed in the winter transfer window of 2024 when Echeverri was signed by Manchester City, leaving Mastantuono with a clear path to the first team.

Franco Mastantuono stats

At just 16 years of age, Mastantuono was called into the senior team for…