Argentina’s next number 10? Zidane-esque?
Franco Mastantuono is still weeks away from turning 18, but the young Argentine midfielder is already a name on the lips of Madridistas—and he hasn’t even officially trained with Real Madrid yet. Set to rejoin training on August 14 under Xabi Alonso’s watchful eye, Mastantuono is already being spoken of as a potential star at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Few people know the teenager better than Daniel Brizuela, the former head of scouting at River Plate, who first spotted him as a child. In an interview with Radio MARCA, Brizuela recounted the first time he laid eyes on the prodigy during a tour in Azul, a town in Buenos Aires province:
“In a swarm of children, he made a targeted control and made a pass that ended in a goal. That’s when I said: this is a child prodigy.”
What set Mastantuono apart wasn’t just his refined technique, even at nine years old—it was his mind.
“The difference wasn’t just in what he did, but in how and when he did it,” Brizuela added.
From the very beginning, Brizuela believed Mastantuono was destined for greatness.
“He’s the prototype of the European footballer. I always said he was meant for Real Madrid,” he said with a laugh, recalling that even as a 10-year-old, Mastantuono’s leadership and style were extraordinary.
By 16, Mastantuono had already made his debut at River Plate, showing a maturity beyond his years.
“He played in a stadium with 80,000 people as if he were in his own backyard,” Brizuela noted.
Beyond his talent, Brizuela praised Mastantuono’s character and work ethic:
“He has very strong values and extraordinary discipline. Everything that’s happening to him is his own doing; no one has given him anything.”
Looking ahead, Brizuela is bullish on what the midfielder can achieve in Madrid.
“I’m sure he’ll be at the next World Cup. He’s the heir to the Argentina national team’s No. 10.”
As for Mastantuono’s ideal role, Brizuela sees him thriving in the heart of midfield.
“He likes to be the leader of the orchestra; he needs to have the ball. He has a chessboard in his head.”
While the teenager has experience on the wings, Brizuela believes the center is where his decision-making and spatial awareness can truly shine. He also highlighted his defensive IQ:
“He’s intense, he knows when and where to press, and he works very well after losing the ball.”
Brizuela also drew an audacious comparison:
“He has Zidane qualities; he’s a fine, elegant player with a white boot.”
