The world is discovering Franco Mastantuono . Even before his already official transfer to Real Madrid , the brilliant Argentinian attacking midfielder is taking advantage of the Club World Cup to showcase the extent of his talent. River Plate dominated the Urawa Reds Diamonds (3-1) in their first match with their great hope starting at kick-off. Even Xabi Alonso had a word for him in a press conference , after he had just watched the Millonarios' performance. If the new Madrid coach is eager to have him under his orders, his Argentinian colleague cannot say the same. Quite the opposite.
In a press conference ahead of River's match against Monterrey tonight, Marcelo Gallardo had some strong words for his young talent. He regrets his premature departure, according to him. "It's natural, we train players for the world. Everything happens earlier, young people leave faster, and I understand that these are the rules of the game. He was part of our project for next season. We have to readjust, because there are players who, due to their profile, are difficult to replace ," said the former attacking midfielder, fully aware that he could not have kept Mastantuono forever.
Gallardo rages against Mastantuono's move to Real Madrid
"We knew he would end up leaving, but the fans don't take this kind of departure well. The market dictates the calendar ," complains the 49-year-old Argentinian coach. His club still recovers €45 million from this transfer , the amount of his release clause, but this departure upsets him. It weakens his team, as does the local championship, which cannot compete on equal terms with the big European teams. He also fears the fierce competition from Real Madrid and the uprooting for such a young player (only 17 years old), promised a brilliant future certainly and already very mature.
Although he's a regular on the bench, Gallardo is afraid that the new Albiceleste international (1 cap) will get lost along the way. "All I want is for him to play naturally, to put aside everything that's going on around him, which is very difficult. I don't talk to him about his future life in Madrid, or anything outside of it. I just want him to do what he does best: play football." Mastantuono has at least two more games in this Club World Cup to enjoy River and what he knows best, before the big leap into the unknown. Much to his coach's dismay.
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