Why Franco Mastantuono Will Wear the Number 30 at Real Madrid?
Franco Mastantuono’s Real Madrid debut will feature a special number on his shirt—and it’s no coincidence. The Argentine, who has just turned 18, will keep a number with personal history… although it won’t be permanent.
A Number with Personal History
Real Madrid begins a new era with several signings for the future, and among them stands out Argentine Franco Mastantuono, who arrives from River Plate with the goal of strengthening the midfield and bringing versatility in attack. At just 18 years old, the attacking midfielder was officially presented at the Santiago Bernabéu, smiling as he posed with his new shirt and a number that holds special meaning for him: 30, the same he wore during his early professional days with the Argentine club.
This number, however, will not be permanent. Mastantuono has initially been registered as a Castilla player, which allows him to wear a number higher than 25 in LaLiga. This is a common formula at the club for young talents who, while training and playing with the first team, are officially listed as members of the reserve squad. The decision also leaves the door open for him to inherit a lower number with greater commercial value if there are departures or new signings in the market. If that doesn’t happen, the most likely option is that he will eventually wear 25, the last available spot within the first-team squad list.
Advantages of Being Registered with the Reserve Team
Choosing the 30 also responds to a club strategy. Even if Mastantuono plays with the first team, he can keep this number as long as he is registered with the reserves and is under 23 years old. This allows UEFA to classify him as a homegrown player, provided he completes the required three seasons at the club, even if he never plays a single minute with Castilla.
However, the rule will change starting in the 2026/27 season, when every first-team player will be required to wear numbers between 1 and 25. Until then, Mastantuono will continue to wear the number he debuted with in Argentina—a number that now marks the start of his adventure in Europe.
The club trusts that this young talent will adapt quickly to Spanish football and make the most of this transition period to establish himself as one of the great prospects in the Madrid project. The fans, for their part, hope that the number 30 will be only the first of many milestones he achieves wearing the white shirt.
