Franco Mastantuono: New Favourites to Sign Man Utd, Chelsea & Real Madrid Target Revealed

Manchester City & PSG Take the Lead in the Race for River Plate’s Teenage Wonder

In South America, where the air seems forever thick with football folklore and the next superstar is always just one street game away, Franco Mastantuono has arrived. At just 17 years old, the left-footed Argentine midfielder has already started writing his own chapter in River Plate’s vast storybook, one that European clubs are now lining up to co-author.

Once considered Real Madrid’s to lose, the teenager’s path has taken an unexpected turn. In a summer transfer market that promises its usual share of chaos, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as frontrunners to sign the wonderkid—edging out earlier interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, and Real Madrid.

The Rise of a Left-Footed Prodigy from Buenos Aires

If you haven’t seen Franco Mastantuono play yet, you might assume the hype is premature. After all, he’s only just turned 17 and hasn’t even made a full senior debut in a top European league. But those who’ve watched him glide through midfield for River Plate’s first team know that there’s something different about him.

Left-footed, sharp between the lines, and eerily composed for his age, Franco Mastantuono has the kind of natural grace that’s hard to coach. He’s not just a technical player—he’s a rhythm-setter, a tempo-controller, a playmaker who sees things half a second before everyone else.

So it’s no surprise that some of the biggest clubs on the planet have come calling.

Real Madrid’s Hesitation Opens the Door

For months, the feeling was that Real Madrid were leading the chase. Franco Mastantuono’s camp had reportedly shown a preference for Los Blancos, and who could blame them? The Bernabéu has become something of a modern finishing school for young talent: Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Endrick, and now Kylian Mbappé—Madrid is building a dynasty of youth.

But cracks began to appear. Public comments from Franco Mastantuono’s representatives, coupled with an uncompromising €40 million release clause, gave Real pause. According to Spanish sources, Madrid grew frustrated with how the situation was being handled publicly. They didn’t walk away entirely—but they slowed their pursuit.

That hesitation was all Manchester City and PSG needed.

The New Favourites: Manchester City & Paris Saint-Germain

According to Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport, the European landscape is shifting. City and PSG—both clubs with elite youth scouting networks and no fear of spending big—are now considered the most likely destinations for Franco Mastantuono.

Money is no obstacle for either. Manchester City, with their meticulously run City Football Group empire, have shown time and again that they’re willing to spend top dollar on emerging stars if they believe in the upside. Just look at Julián Álvarez—another River Plate export who’s now a World Cup winner and Champions League mainstay.

Then there’s PSG. With Lionel Messi gone, Neymar in the rearview mirror, and Kylian Mbappé set to depart for Spain, the Parisian project is entering a new era—one built on youth, energy, and potential. Franco Mastantuono fits that blueprint perfectly.

Manchester United and Chelsea in the Rearview

For Manchester United and Chelsea, the situation is a familiar one. Both clubs reportedly showed interest early—United even holding multiple meetings with River Plate—but neither has been able to make decisive progress.

United’s transfer strategy under INEOS remains somewhat unclear, while Chelsea, despite their aggressive recruitment of youth over the past two years, are still grappling with how to integrate that talent into a winning first team.

Both clubs still have the resources to make a late push, but for now, they appear to be trailing.

The Milan Clubs: Interest but No Move

Don’t count out Italy entirely. Both Inter Milan and AC Milan have been tracking Franco Mastantuono for some time. The two Serie A giants have a long history of identifying South American talent before the rest of Europe fully catches on. However, Gazzetta notes that neither club is expected to make a formal move this summer.

Why? Simple. The €40 million clause is a major obstacle for clubs who must be more financially cautious. Italian teams have been burned before by overcommitting on unproven prospects, and in a summer of limited resources, prudence trumps potential.

River Plate Dig In Their Heels

If River Plate have their way, Franco Mastantuono won’t be going anywhere—at least not yet.

Club board member Stefano Di Carlo has been emphatic in recent interviews. “Yes, yes,” he nodded when asked if Mastantuono would stay through 2025. “That’s a certainty already.”

It’s a strong message, but in modern football, such declarations rarely end the story. If City or PSG—or even Madrid—choose to trigger the release clause, River will have no legal means to stop the move.

The player, of course, still holds some power. And so far, Mastantuono has said little about his preferred destination, other than vague hints about “Europe being the dream.”

The Weight of Comparison: Maradona, Messi… and Now Mastantuono?

Perhaps the most telling sign of Mastantuono’s potential is not the price tag or the transfer rumors—but the names being invoked in his shadow.

Matías Almeyda, a former River Plate and Argentina national team midfielder who hails from the same town as Mastantuono, has already gone there. “After Diego Maradona, there didn’t seem to be any heirs, but Leo Messi arrived,” he said. “And I say that now is the time for Franco Mastantuono.”

That quote alone might be enough to make some fans roll their eyes. The road from teenage talent to global icon is littered with broken narratives and careers that fizzled under pressure. But in Argentina, hope is part of the DNA, and comparison is a form of prophecy.

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández also spoke glowingly of his young compatriot, praising his vision and confidence on the ball. It’s not just hype—it’s recognition from those who’ve seen something real.

So What Happens Next?

Franco Mastantuono turns 18 in August. Until then, he remains River Plate property, shielded by age restrictions and FIFA’s international transfer rules. But come next season, the transfer frenzy will intensify.

City and PSG look ready to test River’s resolve, Real Madrid may yet return to the table, and United or Chelsea could launch a late surge. What’s clear is that this story is only just beginning.

For now, Mastantuono continues to grow under the spotlight in Buenos Aires, wearing the same shirt as legends before him. Whether he ends up in Manchester, Madrid, Milan, or Paris, one thing is certain—football’s next great playmaker may already be among us.