Real Madrid youngster Franco Mastantuono makes strong early impression on Mourinho in pre-season

Real Madrid’s Argentine prospect Franco Mastantuono has emerged as one of the surprise standouts of Jose Mourinho’s first pre-season in charge, reshaping perceptions of his future at the club after an inconsistent debut campaign.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Mastantuono has been among the players who have most impressed Mourinho in the opening days of Real Madrid’s pre-season work, with his technical quality and physical condition catching the eye of the Portuguese coach.

Real Madrid have been training at their Valdebebas base for the past 11 days, with several internationals still on holiday following summer commitments. Mourinho has used the reduced squad to run detailed assessments of those already at his disposal, paying particular attention to players whose status was questioned after a below-par 2023-24 season.

Within that context, Mastantuono has been one of the major winners. The 19-year-old is reported to have left one of the best early impressions on Mourinho as the coach begins to shape his “new” Real Madrid – from identifying a core starting XI to refining the side’s playing style. While further departures are expected and the possibility of at least one new signing remains, Mastantuono has shown enough to position himself as a serious contender for a starting place.

From marquee signing to uncertain debut season

Real Madrid signed Mastantuono from River Plate in a deal worth around €60m, viewing him as one of the most promising young talents in South American football. Expectations were high, but his first season in Spain did not consistently match that hype, prompting speculation over whether he might leave on loan this summer.

He began the campaign in encouraging fashion. The winger started in the Copa del Rey tie against Albacete, then made his first European start against Monaco and was also selected from the outset against Benfica. In La Liga he was given several opportunities early on, but his minutes gradually dwindled.

His trajectory suffered a major setback when he received a red card in second-half stoppage time against Getafe, earning a two-match suspension. From that point, the former River Plate player slowly lost his place in the starting XI and his confidence visibly dipped.

A further blow came when he was left out of Argentina’s squad for the World Cup, despite having been regarded as one of the brightest emerging talents in Argentine football. The omission underlined how much his momentum had stalled over the course of the season.

Long-standing admiration within Madrid

Mourinho’s growing appreciation of Mastantuono’s qualities has not come out of nowhere. Marca reports that Xabi Alonso had already highlighted the youngster’s potential last season, as had Alvaro Arbeloa during his time working with the club’s youth sides.

Mastantuono’s arrival was one of the most talked-about transfers at Real Madrid last year. Alonso considered his best position to be on the right wing and granted him numerous chances to showcase his abilities there, particularly in the early months of the campaign.

For both Alonso and now Mourinho, a key part of the player’s appeal lies in his intensity without the ball. The report states that Mourinho places significant value on Mastantuono’s willingness to press aggressively and his energy in defensive phases – attributes the Portuguese coach regards as fundamental to his new project at the Bernabeu.

Mourinho is now focused on restoring the youngster’s self-belief and creating the right conditions for him to display his full range of talents and prove he can thrive in a Real Madrid shirt.

Loan debate and transfer interest

Inside the club, the idea of sending Mastantuono out on loan has been seriously considered, mirroring the path taken by Brazilian forward Endrick, who has joined Lyon and is expected to work under Mourinho in the upcoming season.

However, Real Madrid have not contemplated a permanent sale. The hierarchy believes that adapting to European football is a process that inevitably takes time, particularly for a teenager experiencing his first season away from Argentina.

In recent weeks, Mastantuono has been linked with several clubs in the Premier League, as well as sides in Serie A. A loan move within La Liga is also on the table, with Villarreal and Real Sociedad among the teams credited with an interest.

For now, though, his performances at Valdebebas have altered the tone around his situation. From being a candidate for a temporary move away, Mastantuono has, at least in the early stages of pre-season, forced his way into Mourinho’s thinking – and potentially into Real Madrid’s plans for the new campaign.