A debut under scrutiny

Real Madrid spent over 81 million to sign Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, presenting him as a marquee addition after his 18th birthday. Everything suggested his debut might come against Osasuna at the Bernabéu, wearing the number 30 shirt. Yet what should be a festive occasion may instead spark controversy.

Despite being presented as a first-team player, Mastantuono has been officially registered with Real Madrid Castilla to keep a senior squad number (1-25) available for the transfer market. This maneuver raised eyebrows: if he plays, could Madrid face allegations of fielding an ineligible player?

The warning from CENAFE

The strongest criticism came from Miguel Galán, president of CENAFE, who accused Madrid of acting in “bad faith” with the registration. Galán argued that presenting Mastantuono as a first-team signing while registering him with the B team amounts to fraud, a move that violates Article 125 of the RFEF’s General Regulations.

He explained that an ineligible lineup only applies if the player actually takes the field, not simply being called up. Still, the bigger issue lies in the precedent: allowing top signings to be registered with reserve squads could distort competition in divisions like Castilla’s, creating an unfair advantage.

Is Real Madrid at risk of sanction?

The RFEF allows reserve players to appear for the senior team if they meet basic requirements: valid registration, proper age, and no suspensions. The controversy arises from using that registration as a loophole to avoid the squad number limit.

In this context, Mastantuono’s debut isn’t just a footballing spectacle —it could be a legal headache. Madrid appear confident there’s no danger, but if suspicions of fraud gain traction, the young Argentine’s first steps in LaLiga may bring more problems than joy for the club.