Even though he’s only 16, midfielder Franco Mastantuono is already turning heads at several top European clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, who have shown interest in him. In a recent interview, a River Plate club chief acknowledged the attention from multiple teams towards the player.
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are also in the mix for the midfielder, but reports suggest that the Catalan side has already bowed out of contention for the Argentine, even before the summer transfer window heats up.
According to a recent report from SPORT, Barcelona are falling behind in the race for Mastantuono because its objective is to adjust the budget and comply with the 1-1 rule.
Nonetheless, regardless of whether the Catalan side is in the mix or not, River Plate’s vice president, Matías Patanian, notes that they know that several clubs are already watching the player.
“There hasn’t been any official contact regarding Mastantuono yet, but we know there are teams pursuing him,” Patanian told ESPN (h/t Bernabéu Digital).
“Scouts come to watch River’s matches or they reach out to you. We understand he’s a player whom the big European powers are beginning to notice.”
To get him out of River Plate will take a significant sum, as the teenager currently has a release clause standing at €45 million. It’s worth noting that this figure could increase to €50 million if the player leaves River Plate just ten days before the transfer window closes.
