Barcelona are falling behind in the race for the services of the 16-year-old River Plate sensation Franco Mastantuono.
According to a report by SPORT, Barcelona could end up missing out on Franco Mastantuono. The 16-year-old sensation has been on the radar of the Catalan giants for a while now. But they might fail to land him at the club amidst interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City.
Mastantuono has come up the ranks at River Plate, and he was promoted to their first team at the start of the year. The teenage sensation has already featured in 11 matches for the senior team and also has two goals to his name.
He has had an impressive rise at the Argentine club, and his performances have not gone unnoticed. Multiple clubs from across Europe have been monitoring him for a while now. They have scouted him on his way up to the first team and feel the South American sensation could do wonders in the long run.
He penned down a new contract at the start of the year. The deal runs until the summer of 2026, and the new release clause is worth €45 million. While the player has committed his future to the River Plate and intends to continue his development in his own country, there is no shortage of interest and top clubs could knock on his door in the summer.
Manchester City and Chelsea’s interest in Mastantuono
Manchester City and Chelsea are two English clubs keen on having him in their ranks. Their scouts feel the left-footed no. 10 has everything needed to succeed at the very top, and that is why they are looking to move early in his pursuit.
Both clubs are always on the lookout for young players who can help them in the long run and Mastantuono fits the bills. While the youngster is only 16, he can still make the move to a European club in the summer as he holds an Italian passport.
Barcelona could miss out on Mastantuono
Both English giants are well capable of triggering the player’s release, making it difficult for Barcelona, who have been monitoring him for a long while now. Moreover, the report suggests that the teenager’s future may be decided in the coming week.
The new contract came as a big relief for Barcelona as they do not have the financial capabilities to make a move at this stage. Since the debate about his future was prolonged, the Catalan giants thought they had enough time to sign the Argentine jewel.
Unfortunately, the Blaugrana might end up missing out on his services as top clubs are pushing to reach an agreement even before the window opens. Barcelona are busy balancing their books so that they can have something to spend in the summer. As a result, they cannot make a move for the teenager at this stage.
