The Move That Changed River’s Policy

Franco Mastantuono (Azul, 2007) became last summer the most expensive transfer in Argentine league history. The €45 million release clause allowed Real Madrid to sign him outright, surpassing the amounts Benfica paid for Enzo Fernández or Barcelona for Javier Saviola.

However, the feeling at El Monumental was bittersweet. “We always said we wouldn’t sell him, and we didn’t: Real Madrid came and triggered the release clause. It would have been wonderful to keep him, but that’s football,” explained Stefano Di Carlo to Radio La Red.

“We Fell Short With Mastantuono’s €45 Million Clause”

The executive admitted that what once seemed like a record now feels insufficient. “It’s in the top three sales in Latin American history… but with Mastantuono’s €45 million, we fell short,” he said.

Di Carlo also lamented how the European market destabilizes South American teams: “They decide to strengthen for competition, and we get our squads dismantled.”

The $100 Million Clause

In response, River Plate has established a new contractual policy: the ‘anti-Mastantuono clause’, worth $100 million, now applied to all new prospects. The first to benefit was Juan Bautista Dadín, the reserve team’s top scorer, who renewed until 2028 with the highest clause ever seen in Argentine football.

“This clause aims to break unilateral decisions. With 100 million, they have to come and sit down to negotiate,” explained Di Carlo.

A New Era at El Monumental

The club has extended this policy to several of its rising stars: Alex Woiski, Ian Subiabre, Lautaro Rivero, Facundo Colidio, Thiago Acosta, Matías Galarza Fonda, Juan Carlos Portillo, Facundo González, and Agustín Obregón. The next renewal, already agreed, will be Santiago Lencina.

The ‘anti-Mastantuono clause’ is no longer just a precaution — it’s River Plate’s new shield to safeguard its future.