More than a decade has passed since a player born in Argentina has taken the ground with the Real Madrid shirt, a sequence that will not end imminent when Wonderkid Franco Mastanuono, 18, made his debut for Los Blancos.
The final of the 2014 Champions League, where Real Madrid won the highly anticipated Decima, saw the last time that a player born in Argentina presented for Los Blancos in an official match. This player was to Lengel Di Maria, who was appointed man of the match while he and Madrid conquered European glory.
Quick advance of 11 years and Mastanuono will seek to follow in the footsteps of El Fideo upon his arrival in Los Blancos. In discussion with an Argentinian point of sale NacionDi Maria spoke of her 18 -year -old compatriot before his debut with Real Madrid.
“Hopefully it is doing very well,” said Di Maria. “It would be very good for another Argentinian to represent us well, that he can win trophies and continue to grow. It has incredible potential to do it. ”
Mastanuono has become a familiar name in Argentina for its stellar performance for the Giants River in South America. A leap to Europe this summer was inevitable and, with several major European clubs interested, it was Real Madrid which sparked its release clause of 45 million euros ($ 52.1 million) to ensure its transfer.
“I hope it goes very well for him,” added Di Maria. “The city is spectacular and it will adapt very easily. Playing for Real Madrid is something unique and it must make the most of it. ”
This is the first time that Real Madrid has completed the signature of an Argentinian player since Di Maria joined the Benfica club in 2010. The 2022 World Cup champion would continue to play 190 games in four seasons with Los Blancos, scoring 36 goals, helping 85 and winning each silverware piece for which he was fighting.
The Argentinian international Nico Paz made his professional debut for Los Blancos in 2023, but he is a product of the Academy and was born in Tenerife, Spain.
Although the former man of River Plate has been officially unveiled in recent days, there is a good chance that he will make his debut at Real Madrid when opening the Los Blancos season against Osasuna.
Mastantuono will aim to reproduce the success of Di Maria with the biggest sport club and, why not, the success of another plate of the River and the Legend of Real Madrid: Alfredo Di Stéfano.
