Multiple reports from outlets like OKDiario, EFE, and journalists such as César Luis Merlo and Fabrizio Romano have now confirmed what seemed inevitable: Franco Mastantuono, the Argentine wonderkid from River Plate, is officially a new Real Madrid player. At just 17 years old and following a promising debut with Argentina's senior national team, the midfielder is set to sign a contract that runs until June 2031 with the Spanish giants. The deal between the player’s camp, River, and Madrid’s board is already done—marking the most expensive transfer in the history of Argentine football.

A record-breaking deal with massive figures

The transfer was closed for a total of around $65 million gross (60 million euros), with $48 million (45 million euros)—which matches the release clause—going straight to the Argentine club’s coffers. The payment will be made in a single installment, a condition River had insisted on to release the player before December. The operation also includes various taxes and fees that significantly raise the final cost for the Spanish side.

Initially, River Plate wanted to hold onto the youngster until the end of the season, but Mastantuono was keen to move to Europe—and a personal call from Xabi Alonso, the new Real Madrid coach, tipped the scales. The midfielder will join Los Blancos in August, right after turning 18 on the 14th, and playing the 2025 Club World Cup with River in the United States, which will serve as his farewell.

Sources at Madrid have confirmed that the Argentine will start with a lower-tier salary in the squad’s wage structure, but his contract includes performance-based raises, plus a signing bonus. His arrival has been greenlit not only by Alonso, but also by Juni Calafat and José Ángel Sánchez, the brains behind Madrid’s recruitment strategy.

With this signing, Real Madrid continues to double down on young talent and strengthens its South American pipeline, adding Mastantuono to a new generation that already includes stars like Endrick, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Federico Valverde. It’s also another win for Calafat, reaffirming his role as the architect of Madrid’s future squad.

As for River Plate, they’re losing one of their biggest prospects but gaining a historic payday that will help strengthen the squad ahead of the decisive stages of the Copa Libertadores and the second half of the year. Mastantuono’s transfer doesn’t just break records—it marks a major milestone in his career and signals Real Madrid’s firm commitment to building for the future.