Real Madrid given huge boost in battle with PSG for rising star

Originally posted on Football Espana | By Ruairidh Barlow | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 10:55 AM ET

Real Madrid appeared to be at serious risk of losing out on Argentine starlet Franco Mastantuono, but they have been given a major boost in their attempts to sign him. Paris Saint-Germain had moved swiftly for Mastantuono’s signature, but Los Blancos’ reaction appears to have had an impact.

PSG were willing to wrap up a deal for Mastantuono this week, and to crucially to pay the €45m release clause that River Plate are demanding for him. That is something that so far Real Madrid have not been open to doing, but they are once again in talks with River and Mastantuono, something that had not been the case for some time.

Directivos del Real Madrid han volado a Argentina para anticiparse al Paris Saint-Germain en la carrera por Franco Mastantuono.

El club francés se adelantó en las conversaciones y las negociaciones están avanzadas, pero el jugador ha bloqueado el traspaso por el momento porque…

— Matteo Moretto (@MatteMoretto) June 4, 2025

The major twist in the equation though, according to Matteo Moretto, is that Mastantuono has decided to halt talks with PSG until talks with Real Madrid reach their natural conclusion. He is prioritising a move to the Santiago Bernabeu first and foremost, and in the process, the chance to fulfil a childhood dream.

This article first appeared on Football Espana and was syndicated with permission.

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