Rumours and reports have been building for several weeks. Since the season ended, there has been intense activity at Real Madrid, a club that held elections for the first time in 20 years and made José Mourinho their big managerial bet, arriving with several signings already lined up.
The official unveiling of Denzel Dumfries is still pending, along with further incoming moves. There is also plenty to resolve on departures, with several players awaiting a clear and firm decision on their futures. Spanish outlet Diario AS has turned its focus to one of those players.
Franco Mastantuono is currently in the spotlight. Neither his camp nor the player himself know what will happen to him, and with pre-season starting on 13 July, he will need to speak to Mourinho about his individual situation.
The club itself is also unsure what to do with the Argentine midfielder heading into the new season. With two months still to go, Real Madrid intend to wait and hear all the options on the table before making a final call.
Mastantuono joined Real Madrid from River Plate for a fee in excess of €63 million and is tied to the club on a contract until 2031, with a release clause set at €1 billion. His first season in Spain fell short of expectations, and he struggled to reproduce the level he had shown in Argentina, gradually losing his place as the campaign wore on. He made 35 official appearances, starting 17 times and scoring three goals, and was ultimately left out of Lionel Scaloni's Argentina squad for the World Cup.
A permanent sale is not being considered. Real Madrid's preferred outcome would be a loan to a competitive club where Mastantuono could secure regular game time, with Real Sociedad and Juventus among the sides reported to be monitoring his situation. Mourinho, though, wants to assess the winger in person during pre-season before any final decision is made.