Real Madrid forward wants to re-join former club this summer
Real Madrid is looking to loan out 18-year-old forward Franco Mastantuono for the 2026-27 season to ensure he receives regular playing time. While the club prefers a European loan, the player is interested in returning to his former club, River Plate.
Why it matters
Player development strategies in professional soccer often involve balancing club preferences with the career goals of young athletes.
It's expected that multiple Real Madrid players will leave before the summer transfer window closes at the end of next month. Jose Mourinho has already informed the likes of Raul Asencio and Eduardo Camavinga that they are not counted on, while another that falls into this category is Franco Mastantuono .
The first 12 months of his Real Madrid career have been tough for Mastantuono. He arrived last August with a lot of excitement, but he failed to make his mark during the 2025-26 season, and that led to him regularly being left out of the starting line-up for matches, both under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.
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