Another Giant Enters the Fray: The Club Blocking Real Madrid's Path to Sign 'New Messi' Mastantuono.

Argentine football continues to be an inexhaustible talent pool, and the latest pearl to capture the attention of European giants is Franco Mastantuono, River Plate's 17-year-old prodigy. With outstanding performances for both the first team and the U-17 and U-20 national youth squads, Mastantuono has sparked a real battle among the most powerful clubs on the Old Continent. And, it seems, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is the first colossus to step on the gas, showing priority interest in the attacking midfielder.

The monitoring of Mastantuono isn't exclusive to PSG. Scouts from all over Europe have been closely watching his development, but it's the Parisian club, Real Madrid, and Manchester United that have shown the most concrete and persistent interest. However, according to reports, PSG is ready to make a decisive move, becoming the first club to seriously consider formulating a formal offer to secure the talented left-footer's services.

River's Stance and PSG's Strategy

The operation PSG has in mind considers two main scenarios. The most direct and forceful would be the payment of his €45 million release clause, a figure River Plate specifically included in his contract to protect their promising player. The other alternative the French giant is evaluating is an agreement that would allow Mastantuono to remain on loan at River Plate until the end of the year, which would give the player valuable continuity and experience in a highly competitive environment.

River Plate's stance on this interest is clear and firm: the club wants to retain Mastantuono. Their intention is for the young midfielder to continue gaining minutes and experience, being a key piece in the Copa Libertadores and the Club World Cup that the 'Millionaire' aspires to qualify for or has already qualified for. The River Plate board has emphatically stated that they have not received any formal offers for the player yet, and that Mastantuono will only leave the institution if his release clause is triggered.

A Summer Saga in the Making

Although PSG currently seems to be leading the race, the competition is fierce. Clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Chelsea, Milan, and Olympique Marseille have also expressed interest in the Argentine gem, which promises a transfer saga in the upcoming market. However, the expectation is that Franco Mastantuono will remain at River Plate at least until the end of this year, prioritizing his development and contribution to the team where his football career began.