Just a week after making his debut as the youngest-ever player for Argentina in a World Cup qualifier against Chile, 17-year-old midfielder Franco Mastantuono has completed a record-breaking move to Real Madrid from River Plate.
Though Real Madrid had been tracking the teenage talent for two years, they reportedly had to fend off stiff competition from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to secure the signing. The Spanish giants confirmed the deal on their official website on Friday, though the transfer fee was not disclosed. However, River Plate later revealed in a statement that the agreement was worth €63.2 million, with €45 million of that amount going directly to the club as part of his release clause—making Mastantuono the most expensive Argentine transfer in history.
This surpasses the previous record set by Enzo Fernández, who left River Plate for Benfica in the 2022–23 season for €44.25 million.
Despite signing a six-year contract with Real Madrid, running until 2031, Mastantuono will not be eligible to play for the club until he turns 18 on August 14. Until then, he will continue to play for River Plate, including in the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 15.
According to ESPN, Real Madrid accelerated their move after identifying PSG as a serious threat. Mastantuono himself was reportedly keen on joining the Spanish capital club, making Madrid his preferred destination.
Mastantuono becomes the third signing under new manager Xabi Alonso, following the arrivals of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold. After a trophyless season in which Real Madrid lost all four matches against fierce rivals Barcelona, the club is rebuilding aggressively in a bid to return to the top.
Highly regarded for his set-piece ability and vision, Mastantuono has impressed top European clubs with his performances. So far in 2025, he has registered four goals and four assists in 12 appearances for River Plate. His promising form earned him a call-up to Lionel Scaloni’s national squad, where he made his senior international debut.
Reports indicate Mastantuono will earn a net salary of around €3.5 million per year, and Real Madrid have inserted a staggering €1 billion release clause into his contract to safeguard their latest prodigy.
