Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso sees signs of a bright future in the performance of Argentina’s young talent, Franco Mastantuono, who made his debut in the second half wearing the club’s iconic jersey.
During the match, the cameras repeatedly focused on Mastantuono warming up on the sidelines. Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: the newly 18-year-old Argentine stepped onto the pitch for the first time in a Real Madrid shirt.
The youngster has long attracted curiosity and praise in Argentina, earning nicknames like “Wonder Boy” and “the new Messi.” Several European clubs, including PSG, had shown interest, but it was Real Madrid who won the race. Mastantuono signed a six-year deal with the European champions for €45 million, officially joining the club shortly after his 18th birthday. His competitive debut came last Tuesday against Osasuna in La Liga.
He was substituted in the 67th minute for Brahim Diaz, spending roughly 30 minutes on the pitch, including added time. In that brief period, he showcased glimpses of his talent: dazzling footwork with his left foot, precise passes, and a near-goal from a difficult angle that hit the goalkeeper. Almost 90 percent of his passes were on target, demonstrating his lively presence.
A key factor in choosing Real Madrid over PSG was the influence of coach Xabi Alonso. The young forward made his decision after speaking with Alonso, who was impressed by Mastantuono’s performance in his debut.
“It seems I liked him quite a bit, right? I was watching him closely. Sometimes in the heat of the moment, players lose focus, but he looked good. I felt he could contribute to the team today, and he did. He spent some good minutes on the pitch and made an impact. That’s positive news.”
Although Mastantuono came on as a substitute, this match marked La Liga debuts for three other Real Madrid players in the starting eleven, all defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Housen, and Alvaro Carreras. Each performed well. Alexander-Arnold, coming from a club like Liverpool, brought experience, while Housen (from Bournemouth) and Carreras (from Benfica) also impressed.
Alonso was pleased with all the newcomers.
“They did well. Maybe they didn’t do anything spectacular, but they were serious. Playing at the Bernabeu, they didn’t collapse under the weight of this jersey. All four performed well and weren’t overly nervous. Those who played in the Club World Cup, and today with Franco’s debut, each showed their quality. Franco brought new energy to the field.”
Osasuna, however, tested Real Madrid’s defense. Using a low-block strategy with four to six defenders, they made it difficult for Madrid to break through. Ultimately, a penalty goal by Kylian Mbappe in the 51st minute secured the win.
Having had limited rest and preparation after the Club World Cup, Real Madrid was satisfied with the three points. Alonso also emphasized that there’s plenty of room for improvement.
“There are positives, and the biggest one is the win. We’ve only had two weeks of training, so against a team with a long pre-season, some gaps were bound to appear, and they did. When will this win stabilize us moving forward?”
“There are positives, but also areas to improve. The road ahead is long. Our sharpness was a bit lacking, but this victory gives us comfort. Afterward, we can analyze where we need to improve and move forward.”
