The most important Catalan sports newspaper assures that Barcelona is aiming for Mastantuono

Franco Mastantuno, a 16-year-old youngster who trained in River’s youth team, is going from strength to strength in the world of football. This left-footed, audacious, dribbler, scorer and with a lot of technique and ability to move the ball under his feet, is in the orbit of none other than Barcelona, ​​a European giant.

According to the Catalan newspaper Sport, the culé team is one of the clubs interested in acquiring the services of Mastantuono: “Barça, as the other big ones in Europe do, is gathering information on this jewel, which has surprised by the strength of its statement, which few could have predicted just a few months ago.”

But there is a specific fact that excites Barcelona in the face of a possible future negotiation with the River Plate jewel. His idol is Lionel Messi. Yes, the best footballer of all time, a legend of Catalonia, where he broke all kinds of records for more than two decades.

“I always watch Messi, who is my idol, I see what he does, how he thinks and moves. It seems to me that he is by far the best in the world,” Mastantuono said some time ago.

At the beginning of the year, Martín Demichelis called up the young 16-year-old to play the preseason with the rest of the team in the United States. Under his watchful eye, Mastantuono made his official debut in the Primera on January 28 against Argentinos Juniors. For the 2007 midfielder this was just the beginning of his still short but promising career.

On February 7, in a match corresponding to the 32nd final of the Argentine Cup, Mastantuono scored his first goal with the band’s shirt against the Excursionistas and became the youngest player in history to score a goal surpassing none other than Javier Saviola. To this we must add that last weekend he entered the final minutes of River-Boca, becoming the youngest player to play in a Superclásico.

Mastantuono signed his first professional contract with Millonario until December 2025, with a clause worth 30 million dollars, the value of which could rise to 35 in the final days of the transfer window.

Franco Mastantuono will continue to play for River or will follow in the footsteps of Claudio Echeverri, another promising millionaire who will emigrate to the Old Continent, precisely to Manchester City, next year.