Franco Mastantuono: Paris Saint-Germain, Man Utd and Chelsea interested in River Plate's teenage sensation
Premier League clubs are following River Plate's latest star closely, but there is also interest from Spain with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid keen on the attacking midfielder; Franco Mastantuono, who turns 18 in August, has a release clause of around £38m
Friday 30 May 2025 13:12, UK
Paris Saint-Germain have joined Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign River Plate teenager Franco Mastantuono.
The 17-year-old attacking midfielder, considered among the most promising talents in Argentina, is being followed by a host of Premier League clubs.
Reports of contact with River are premature, though, and he is expected to play for the Argentinian club at this summer's Club World Cup in the USA.
Barcelona are also admirers of Mastantuono, while Atletico Madrid have already travelled to Buenos Aires to watch him live.
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Mastantuono, who turns 18 in August, has a release clause of €45m (£38m), the highest-ever in the Argentinian club's history, and his contract runs until 2026.
River president Jorge Brito is under no pressure to sell after overseeing a £46m profit for the club in last season's financial results, while general secretary Stefano Di Carlo has said the attacking midfielder will stay for the rest of 2025 - when the Argentinian season ends.
Julian Alvarez and Claudio Echeverri, both signed by Man City from River in recent years, were signed in the January transfer window.
Mastantuono is the latest top talent to emerge from River's famed academy, known as "Semillero de Campeones", which translates to seedbed of champions.
Alvarez, signed by Atletico for £81m, and Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez were among six players from River's academy in Argentina's World Cup-winning squad in 2022.
The Argentine club have been the top non-European exporters of players to the big five leagues over the last 20 years - with 51 players transferred.
City have since signed Echeverri from River following the success story of Alvarez and the 19-year-old is now training with Pep Guardiola's squad, having been sent back on loan immediately after the deal was sealed.
He made his debut in the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace.
Mastantuono, who became the club's youngest goalscorer at just 16 years, five months and 25 days in February 2024, is set to play a key role for River at this summer's expanded Club World Cup in Miami.
He is also starred in River's 2-1 win over Boca Juniors in the Superclasico, scoring a stunning free-kick to give his side the lead in the 26th minute.
It was a goal scored in front of a record attendance for a sporting event in Argentina is expected for the Argentinian league match after the renovation of Mas Monumental extended the capacity of River's stadium to 85,018. River have an impressive record at home in the derby, losing just one of the last seven iterations.
Mastantuono is no stranger to these big occasions, having already forged a pivotal role in River's first-team since making his debut at the end of January 2024 to become the club's third-youngest player.
The left-footed midfielder has three goals and three assists across 11 appearances in all competitions this season.
