Daniel Brizuela spoke on Cadena Ser’s El Larguero program on what seperates Mastantuono from other young talents.
Franco Mastantuono won’t arrive in Madrid until August, but the people who know him best are already convinced: he’s built for the Bernabeu. One of those voices is Daniel Brizuela, a top Argentine scout who helped launch the careers of Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, and Rodrigo De Paul. He also discovered Mastantuono at just nine years old.
“He always liked being the conductor, ever since he was a little kid. He likes being the protagonist, and those challenges don’t weigh on him,” Brizuela said in an interview with El Larguero. That confidence and personality set Mastantuono apart even before his breakout at River Plate. “When he made it to the first team, he took the reins and became a protagonist, despite River having three or four World Cup winners. Anyone who knows him knows he doesn’t shy away from those moments.”
Talent alone doesn’t guarantee success. Brizuela made that clear: “Franco has great talent, like all young players we discover, but in football that’s not enough. You need personality and character to bring that talent out. Franco has a very strong personality and it’s never weighed on him.”
He remembers Mastantuono’s River debut vividly: “He came in during the second half and scored the winner in a league-deciding game. He’s always had something special.”
That something special, according to Brizuela, makes him a natural fit for Real Madrid. “I think he’s ready. He’s worked so hard because his dream has always been to play for Real Madrid. I’ve always said that based on his body type, play style, and technique—he has Real Madrid DNA.”
What might separate Mastantuono most, though, is his football IQ. “His intelligence allows him to make great decisions in just seconds. He’s been doing that since I first saw him at nine or ten years old.”
When asked how the Argentine could fit into Xabi Alonso’s Madrid, Brizuela highlighted versatility: “He adapts—that’s one of his gifts. When I brought him in, he played on the left, but the coach put him inside. He’s played as a 10, now he’s on the right at River… the coach will be able to use him wherever he fits best.”
But if Brizuela had to choose: “I really like when he comes inside centrally and becomes the conductor and starts linking play.”
Mastantuono may still be months away from setting foot in Valdebebas, but those in Argentina believe he is set to go straight to the top with Real Madrid.
