Revealed: Real Madrid’s Plan to Increase Franco Mastantuono’s Strength and Prevent Injuries After Argentine Suffers Same Issue as Lamine Yamal

Inside Real Madrid’s Careful Plan to Recover and Rebuild Their Argentine Wonderkid

The spotlight may have shifted briefly away from Franco Mastantuono, but make no mistake — Real Madrid still believe they’ve secured one of world football’s next great midfielders. The 17-year-old Argentine sensation, who joined Los Blancos in a headline-making move from River Plate earlier this year, has hit his first real bump in his European journey: a case of pubalgia, the same nagging groin issue that recently sidelined Lamine Yamal at Barcelona.

But if there’s one thing Madrid have learned over the years from nurturing young talents, it’s patience. Inside Valdebebas, the club’s high-performance training complex, a clear plan has already been put in motion — one that focuses not just on getting Mastantuono back on the pitch, but on making him stronger, more durable, and better equipped to handle the physical grind of elite football.

And as reports from AS have revealed, this is not a short-term fix. It’s part of a long-term blueprint aimed at turning Mastantuono into not just a starter for Real Madrid — but a generational player.

Mastantuono Diagnosed with Pubalgia After Impressive Start at Madrid

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Few young players in recent memory have integrated into the Bernabéu atmosphere as quickly as Mastantuono. Arriving from River Plate for a reported €45 million ($53m) fee, he immediately captured the imagination of Madridistas with his composure, creativity, and that rare blend of South American flair and European tactical discipline.

He made his debut in the season opener against Osasuna, coming on for the final 22 minutes. What followed was a string of confident performances that saw him feature in eight La Liga matches and three Champions League fixtures, starting in nine of those appearances.

His numbers — one goal and one assist — may not leap off the page, but his game is about far more than statistics. His positioning, vision, and ability to drift between the lines brought a different rhythm to Xabi Alonso’s team. Mastantuono was showing the same instincts that once made Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos timeless.

Then came the setback. Ahead of Madrid’s Champions League trip to Liverpool, the club announced that Mastantuono had been diagnosed with pubalgia — a chronic inflammation of the muscles and tendons in the lower abdominal region, commonly referred to as a sports hernia. It’s a problem that can be as frustrating as it is unpredictable, and one that has recently affected another teenage sensation in Lamine Yamal.

Since then, Mastantuono has missed matches against both Liverpool and Rayo Vallecano, with no fixed recovery timeline in place. The club’s medical staff have made it clear: his progress will depend entirely on how he feels, day by day.

Madrid’s Step-by-Step Recovery Plan

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At Real Madrid, there’s no sense of panic — only a sense of purpose. According to AS, the club’s medical and performance teams have mapped out a three-phase recovery program tailored specifically for Mastantuono’s physical profile and playing style.

The first phase involves complete rest from match play and high-intensity drills. Mastantuono has been training separately, focusing on mobility, flexibility, and gentle muscle activation. The aim isn’t speed — it’s stability.

The second phase will emphasize targeted physical conditioning, particularly on building lower-body strength and core balance. Pubalgia often stems from imbalance between abdominal and thigh muscles, so Madrid’s approach focuses on reinforcing the surrounding structures to prevent recurrence.

Only once those foundations are set will Mastantuono return to ball work — short passing, changes of direction, acceleration drills — all under close supervision. The plan is fluid, and no one is putting a date on his return. For now, the expectation is that he could resume light training during the international break, though Madrid won’t rush him.

Strengthening Mastantuono’s Lower Body — A Key Part of the Plan

When Mastantuono first broke into River Plate’s senior team, he was all talent and technique — a silky, fearless playmaker who glided past defenders as if the ball were glued to his feet. But even back then, coaches noticed that while he was blessed with agility, he lacked pure physical power.

During his final months in Buenos Aires, River’s conditioning staff designed a personalized training program to help him add muscle mass without sacrificing mobility. Over time, he gained close to 10 kilograms of lean muscle, which made him sturdier in duels and more explosive off the mark.

Now at Real Madrid, the focus is shifting once again. The club’s performance team, led by renowned fitness expert Antonio Pintus, has identified lower-body strength and core stability as critical areas for Mastantuono’s development.

The idea is not just to help him recover from his current injury — but to bulletproof him for the future. The sessions include balance training, single-leg stability work, short sprints, and resistance exercises aimed at reinforcing the groin and hip regions. This, Madrid believe, will help him maintain explosiveness while minimizing the risk of recurring muscle injuries that so often plague young, fast-twitch players.

“The goal isn’t to build him like a tank,” a source close to Valdebebas told AS. “It’s about building an engine that can run for years — strong, stable, and efficient.”

Patience and Perspective: Madrid’s Youth Blueprint

Inside Real Madrid, there’s an awareness that great players are not built overnight. The club often cites the examples of Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde, and even Endrick — all of whom arrived in Madrid as teenagers with immense potential but needed time to adapt to the physical and tactical demands of the European game.

Mastantuono’s early months are viewed through the same lens. His dip in form and now his injury aren’t seen as setbacks, but as natural growing pains. The coaching staff, led by Xabi Alonso, remains deeply confident in his talent and character.

“Franco is special,” one Madrid insider said. “You can see it in how he reads the game — how he reacts. This injury won’t change that. If anything, it’ll make him stronger.”

The club’s patience is deliberate. Madrid’s philosophy has long been to develop stars for the long haul, not just for immediate results. From a teenage Sergio Ramos to an adolescent Vinícius, Madrid’s belief in youth development has become one of the defining traits of their modern success.

Madrid’s Mental and Medical Balance

Beyond the physical side, the club also pays close attention to the psychological dimension of injury recovery. For a teenager thousands of miles away from home, dealing with physical pain and competitive frustration can be difficult. Madrid’s support team — including sports psychologists and mentors — has been in close contact with Mastantuono to help him stay positive and engaged during his rehabilitation.

The message from the top, including Florentino Pérez himself, is clear: take your time. Madrid see Mastantuono as a project for the next decade, not the next month. And that reassurance allows the youngster to focus on healing rather than hurrying.

Inside Valdebebas, there’s an air of calm confidence. The medical staff, who have successfully managed players like Karim Benzema, Vinícius, and Valverde through various muscular issues, believe Mastantuono’s condition will heal fully — as long as there’s no rush.

Mastantuono’s Motivation: Argentina and the World Stage

For Mastantuono, the motivation to return stronger isn’t just about reclaiming his spot in Madrid’s lineup — it’s also about earning a place in Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Argentina’s new generation, led by the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Enzo Fernández, and Julián Álvarez, is already beginning to form the core of what many believe will be the national team’s next golden era. Mastantuono, with his blend of intelligence and flair, fits perfectly into that vision.

While it’s still early, his performances for Madrid have already caught the attention of Scaloni’s staff. A strong finish to the season — if his recovery allows — could put him in contention for Argentina’s upcoming training camps in 2026. For the teenager, that possibility is both a dream and a driving force.

Real Madrid’s Long-Term Vision: Building a World-Beater

As things stand, Real Madrid remain calm and committed to their long-term plan. The club sees Mastantuono as one of the cornerstones of its next generation — alongside Endrick, Arda Güler, and Brahim Díaz.

The strategy is simple: develop, protect, and prepare. Pubalgia is a frustrating opponent, but it’s also an opportunity — a pause that allows Madrid to build their young midfielder’s body for the decade ahead.

When Mastantuono returns, he’ll do so not only as a more resilient player but as a more complete one — physically stronger, mentally sharper, and ready to take on the challenges of both La Liga and the Champions League.

And if history is anything to go by, Real Madrid know exactly how to turn promising teenagers into world-beaters.