Izuchukwu Okosi
Real Madrid on Friday completed the signing of River Plate youth prodigy, Franco Mastantuono, for £38.5m after the 15-time European champions triggered his release clause.
The player, 17, will join Real on August 14 on the day he turns 18 years old.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe exciting prospect only last week became Argentina’s youngest debutant in a competitive fixture as he made a late entrance in Argentina’s 1-0 win over bottom-placed Chile in the South American 2025 World Cup qualifying table.
Mastuatuaono who is expected to play on the right side of Madrid’s attack when he joins this summer, was also the youngest player to score in River Plate’s colours in a derby against Boca Juniors.
The forward is Real’s third signing of the summer, following the acquisition of defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth.
READ ALSO:Real Madrid Agree £10m Deal With Liverpool For Trent Alexander-Arnold
England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold described joining Real Madrid as a “dream come true” and “huge responsibility” as he addressed the audience during his unveiling in impeccable Spanish at his presentation on Thursday.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, would have been able to leave Liverpool on a free transfer at the end of his contract on 30 June but the Spaniards paid the Reds a fee in the region of £8.4m to release him early so that he could play for them at this month’s Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, Dean Huijsen was another transfer that involved a youngster.
The Danish-born Spain international moved to Madrid for £50m from Bournemouth.
The 20-year-old centre-back became one of the Premier League’s most consistent centre-backs, after replacing the injured Marcos Senesi in December 2024.
Real Madrid’s first game of the FIFA Club World Cup is against Saudi Arabia top side Al Hilal on Wednesday, June 18.
The team have already arrived the USA for the start of the competition.
New head coach Xabi Alonso took charge of the club’s first training session on Thursday.
The game kicks off at 8pm Nigerian time.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
