Real Madrid summer signing Franco Mastantuono offered insight into his recent groin injury, spoke about his admiration for teammates Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, and named Lionel Messi as his personal best-ever player, according to a report from Madrid Universal.
Real Madrid’s young summer signing Franco Mastantuono has provided his most open reflections yet on his early months in Spain, including fitness updates and his adaptation to the club, according to a report from Madrid Universal.
Speaking in his first major interview as a Real Madrid player with SER, the teenager addressed everything from his injury setback to learning from the dressing room’s global stars.
Mastantuono began by discussing the groin problem that has recently slowed his progress, making it clear the discomfort had been building:
“It was a pain I’d been feeling for some time. It was time to slow down and recover properly so I could be 100%. This club demands it. I’ll be back playing soon.”
He elaborated that the injury first became a real concern during the “second game of the Club World Cup against River, and it bothered me more and more until I had to stop because of the pain.”
Despite the massive expectations, Mastantuono insisted that the pressure of wearing the Real Madrid shirt does not overwhelm him.
“With the responsibility that comes with being a Real Madrid player, I try to always enjoy it, and I think that’s how people will see the best version of me. I try not to put pressure on myself and to enjoy the game,” he said.
Having moved from being the focal point at River Plate, he is focused on a team-first mindset: “I’m not thinking about being the star, but about helping my teammates, and then everything will fall into place the way I want it to.”
He praised the positive environment and relationships he has built in the dressing room, noting: “I’ve met a group of incredible people who make every day wonderful.
They’re incredible people as well as impressive players for Real Madrid. I have a great relationship with Brahim, Valverde, Huijsen, Carreras. I think the dressing room is fantastic.”
On the field, Jude Bellingham has impressed him most, describing him as “an incredible player,” and also “a great person, one of the guys I get along with very well.”
He also spoke highly of Kylian Mbappe: “He’s in incredible form, he helps us a lot… hopefully here at Real Madrid. He’s got his eye on the goal, and every time he gets close to shoot, you know something’s going to happen.
That gives the team a lot of confidence, knowing that something good is going to happen when he has the ball near the box.”
Finally, he weighed in on the eternal debate, confirming his personal preference while still reaffirming his respect for the club:
“I’m a Real Madrid fan… but for me, Messi is always the best player in football and in the world… You learn a lot from him.”
Regarding comparisons with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, he confessed:
“Today, Lamine. He’s showing an incredible level, but I’ve just arrived at Real Madrid, I’m in an adaptation process that I hope will be quick, so I can get up to speed in Europe and at Real Madrid.”