Real Madrid have already decided to send Franco Mastantuono out on loan this summer, with the Argentine youngster failing to convince after a difficult first season at the Bernabeu.
The 20 year old arrived with plenty of promise. The reality? Nine starts in the league. Seventeen appearances. One goal. That is not what anyone had in mind.
Now, the club want him gone but only temporarily.
‘Away from the spotlight’
According to Defensa Central, Real Madrid see a loan move as necessary for the player’s development. They are not looking to sell him permanently. Not yet. They just want him to play regularly somewhere away from the pressure cooker of the Bernabeu.
The logic is simple. Madrid need results now. They cannot afford to wait for a youngster to find his feet. A year away in a less demanding environment, could be exactly what Mastantuono needs to rediscover his best.
Since Alvaro Arbeloa took over, the Argentine has appeared just 12 times in 18 games. Across all competitions, he has managed only two goals. That is not enough for a club of Real Madrid’s stature.
The summer exodus begins
Mastantuono is not the only one heading for the exit. Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Carvajal are all linked with permanent moves away. The squad is being reshaped. Space is being made.
But Mastantuono’s situation is different. Madrid still believe in him. They just think he needs to grow elsewhere.
What comes next?
The destination is not yet clear. Several clubs in Spain and across Europe will be interested in taking a talented young winger on loan. The key is finding somewhere he will actually play.
Mastantuono has talent. Everyone agrees on that. But talent without game time is worthless. And at Real Madrid, game time is earned, not given.
A year away. A fresh start. And then a decision on whether he has a long term future at the Bernabeu.
The bottom line
Mastantuono is being shipped out. That is the headline. But it is not the end of his Real Madrid story. It is a pause. A reset. A chance to prove himself away from the spotlight.
Whether he takes it will determine if he ever wears the white shirt again.
