Franco Mastantuono – River’s Monumental Talent
River Plate’s academy has an outstanding track record of producing top talent. The 2022 World Cup-winning squad included six River academy graduates: Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Exequiel Palacios, Germán Pezzella, Guido Rodríguez, and the man who scored the decisive penalty in the final against France – Gonzalo Montiel.
Amazingly, the next group of jewels from River Plate’s academy are arguably even better. Claudio Echeverri’s transfer to Manchester City for €18.5m was the first of this batch, and there’s many more. The biggest of the lot is 16-year-old Franco Mastantuono.
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If a football pitch is the blank canvas, a skilled artist like Mastantuono is who you want painting a masterpiece on it. There’s an elegance to his game that can be attributed to his background in tennis where he reached 5th in national youth rankings. Powerful and graceful on the court, yet it was on the pitch where he made a racket.
The Decision – A Canon Event
From young, Mastantuono played both football and tennis. In his early days, tennis took priority as his family wanted him to pursue a career with a racket in his hand over a ball at his feet. So much so, his initial trial invitation with River Plate in 2017 when he was 9 was turned down.
However, his true love was football. Mastantuono’s passion football meant in 2019 he decided to chase his dream of becoming a professional football and sign for River Plate in 2019. Fast forward to August 2023 and the former tennis prodigy signed his first professional contract with a sizable release clause of €30 million.
In River’s academy his potential was clearly evident. His performances attracted the attention of the Argentina youth teams. At 14, Mastantuono was called up to Argentina’s U17 squad by Diego Placente. Most of his fellow squad members being 15 and 16. Later in 2024, U20 team coach Javier Mascherano called him up to despite being only 16. So many coaches see Mastantuono’s talent as vastly greater than his age mates.
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As the 2024 season approached, Mastantuono’s time to shine was around the corner. He was called up to the first team for pre-season making his non-competitive debut against Monterrey. Instantly impressing, fans were raving about his mature performance. At just 16, Mastantuono remained unfazed by the pressure. You wouldn’t think that was his debut at only 16. The level of composure he played with was of someone much older.
On 29th January 2024, head coach Martín Demichelis awarded Mastantuono his official senior debut. Coming on in the 65th minute substitute in River’s opening Copa de la Liga match against Argentinos Juniors. This appearance made him River’s third youngest debutant of all time.
Not much later, Mastantuono served up a record-breaking performance as he became River Plate’s youngest ever goal-scorer against CA Excursionistas. Surpassing the record previously held by former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Benfica star-man Javier Saviola was no small achievement.
A magical left-footed right-winger breaking through with the #30 on his back – one might think of Lionel Messi. Despite being a different physical presence at 5’11” with a broad upper body, Mastantuono chose the number to pay homage to his childhood hero Messi. Though their profiles have vague similarities, they’re very different. Mastantuono is probably more likely to be a second striker profile.
In today’s modern game, players need to be intelligent and have an overall understanding. Therefore, the fact Franco played in various positions at youth level has helped develop his natural intuition. Whether deeper in midfield, at right-wing, as a shadow striker, or even a centre-forward, Mastantuono shone and is now doing so for River Plate’s senior team.
Player Profile
Mastantuono glides across the pitch effortlessly, constantly scanning to identify the spaces to exploit. His pinpoint vision allows him to spot even the smallest of openings in the opponent’s defence and deliver precise through balls to teammates in advanced positions.
Mastering the weight of pass tends to take players a while to develop. However, Mastantuono already has an elite level now at just 16 years of age. In deeper areas, Mastantuono will pick up the ball to take responsibility for creating chances and driving his team forward into attacking zones with apace and power.
When on the right wing, that’s where he comes alive, positioning himself to come inside onto his left foot to clip passes into central areas or deliver reverse passes to those running in behind. These types of disguised passes are common for Mastantuono. The combination of his vision, patience and football IQ – knowing when to release the ball – makes him one of the most creative players to come out of River’s incredibly successful academy.
As an associative #10 or right-winger, Mastantuono often cuts inside on his stronger left foot and floats around the half-spaces. The pockets in behind the opponent’s midfielders are where he looks to ghost into and when in these areas, he’s deadly. Not only could he play a deft pass from the edge of the box, but when the space opens up, he can unleash a ferocious strike on goal.
With his rangy athletic legs, Mastantuono generates significant force in his shots from distance. While we are yet to see the best of this at senior level due to limited minutes, he frequently scored impressive goals from distance at youth level. Whether it’s from open play, on his weaker right foot, or from free kicks, Mastantuono’s shooting, for his age, is lethal.
His shooting prowess isn’t limited to merely long-range strikes, as he has various different styles of shots in his repertoire too. From whipped curling free-kicks and powerful strikes through his laces, to the outside of the foot ‘trivela’ shots, Mastantuono appears to have it all. Though he slightly over-relies on his stronger left foot, his right foot is more than capable – it’s just not used as often.
As a player who thrives in half-spaces and taking on defenders, it’s not a surprise that Mastantuono is an excellent manipulator of the ball. His ability to shift the ball smoothly to create separation from his marker is a joy to watch. He’s the type of dribbler who can turn away from a defender at the last second leaving them in the dust.
Whatever position Franco has played in; he’s displayed a high football IQ. He just seems to understand what the game needs – when to slow the game, when to speed it up. Players with this comprehension need to be given positional freedom. At times when he’s been given this licence, he’ll pop up on the left wing, deeper areas, out on the right, running in behind. Build your team around him to enable the artist’s creative freedom. To remove this licence is to dim how bright Mastantuono could shine.
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On the ball, Mastantuono almost seems nonchalant because of how elegant he is. This style really helps him to keep calm and execute well. Franco’s spatial awareness is insane. His seemingly laid-back style helps him create a more time on the ball to pick out a killer pass. Spatial awareness like this only means one thing, Mastantuono is several steps ahead.
A Leader From Young
Even in his early days, Mastantuono has shown a maturity far beyond his years. Even at youth level when he was captain, he was never shy about being vocal with his teammates. Yet his presence and the way he conducts himself on the pitch is often more inspirational than his voice, as Mastantuono’s technical brilliance is matched by a mentality that will no doubt catapult him to the top of world football.
As he gains more experience with River Plate’s senior team, Mastantuono’s confidence and influence continues to grow. He consistently demonstrates fearlessness, intelligence, and a knack for finding space in crowded areas, marking him as a formidable talent.
What’s been so impressive about Mastantuono is his eagerness to take on more responsibility when playing for the senior team, despite being half the age of other River Plate players. Many can shy away from the ball when it comes to playing in front of 90,000 people at El Monumental each week, but not him.
He frequently demands the ball, whether by collecting it from teammates or pressing intensively to win it back. This self-driven motivation to be a difference maker is what has made the likes of Real Madrid interested in signing him already. The blend of the physical stature, athleticism, game-changing weight of pass, killer ball-striking, leadership and maturity all point towards a future leader of a Champions League-winning side.
The more he plays for Los Millonarios, the more he grows in confidence. Game by game, his influence on games improves. Franco has the fearlessness to take on players, the bravery to strike the ball from distance and the intelligence to find teammates when in crowded areas. These are the makings of a scarily talented prospect.
In addition to Franco, there’s also Agustín Ruberto and Ian Subiabre who’ve impressed a lot at youth level for River too. The current River Plate quartet of talents Echeverri, Mastantuono, Ruberto and Subiabre have drawn comparisons to the glory days for Los Millonarios with Aimar, Saviola, Ángel and Ortega. Big shoes to fill, but it’s also so rare that a club has so many special players from their youth system who have a natural understanding on the pitch. One River fan’s dream is a Boca fan’s nightmare.
The Future
Before long, we’ll no doubt know where Mastantuono will end up. European clubs are increasingly securing the best South American prospects before they have turned 18. Pre-agreed deals like those for Vinícius Júnior (Flamengo) and Rodrygo (Santos) to Real Madrid prior are commonplace.
Endrick (Real Madrid), Estêvão (Chelsea), Kendry Páez (Chelsea), Justin Lerma (Borussia Dortmund), the list is ever-growing. It’s becoming more and more frequent that clubs in South America don’t even see their academy prospects long before they’re snapped up by one of Europe’s giants.
It’s inevitable that the clubs will come knocking for Franco Mastantuono soon. For now, we know Mastantuono will have two seasons with River Plate to continue developing his game, and that’s something for Los Millonarios fans to savour.
By: Ben Mattinson / @Ben_Mattinson_
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Marcelo Endelli / Getty Images