Manchester United have been tipped to make a move for River Plate prodigy Franco Mastantuono in January transfer the window opens.
Mastantuono was just 16 when he became River Plate’s youngest goalscorer in February this year, quickly emerging as a player of interest to some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
The Argentinian giants were quick to be careful not to expose themselves to a drop in transfer prices and secured Mastantuono a new two-year contract until December 2026 with a €45m release clause (37, £5 million) as early as the following month.
Real Madrid have been most heavily linked with the 17-year-old attacking midfielder, with some Spanish reports over the summer unsurprisingly claiming personal terms have already been agreed following negotiations led by the renowned scout leader Juni Calafat. But Manchester City are also rumored to be behind, predicted by some to “exploit” Madrid’s approach.
ESPN Argentina Now put Manchester United in the picture too. Not only is he interested, but he appears set to make a move during Argentina’s off-season this winter.
If United, or indeed any foreign club, were to succeed, Mastantuono would have to stay in Argentina for at least a few more months. FIFA rules do not allow international transfers of players under the age of 18 unless their family is moving for non-footballing reasons.
Mastantuono will turn 18 next August, which will fall halfway through Argentina’s 2025 season.
With clubs more conscious of budgets or spending constraints and established superstars at the top of the transfer market potentially out of reach for even the wealthiest, or simply not seen as good value, it is increasingly common for clubs to invest in the future.
That means spending money on potential, which Real Madrid they have done this several times in the South American market. Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and most recently Endrick have all been signed by Brazilian clubs for significant sums under the age of 18. It’s not always a home run swing, though, with Barcelona quickly regretted the capture of Vitor Roque.
Manchester United did not have a brilliant success with Facundo Pellistri, bought for a relatively small fee from Uruguayan Penarol at 18, but the much more expensive capture of Amad Diallo at the same time from Atalanta. finally it seems more likely to bear fruit after considerable patience.
Chelsea expect Ecuador international Kendry Páez to turn 18, having completed a move from Independiente del Valle just a month after his 16th birthday in 2023, while the Blues will also. bring Estevao Willian from Brazil next year. Last January, Manchester City signed Claudio Echeverri from River Platewho was already 18 at the time, but left him on loan in Argentina.
