'Fans Don't Enjoy It': River Plate's Gallardo Laments Mastantuono's Move To Real Madrid

Last Updated:June 21, 2025, 14:10 IST

Marcelo Gallardo expressed disappointment over Franco Mastantuono's move to Real Madrid, and slandered the modern-day pratice of early transfers.

Franco Mastantuono for River Plate at the FIFA CWC 2025 (X)

Franco Mastantuono’s transfer to Real Madrid was premature, and an experience that River Plate fans haven’t taken too well, stated coach Marcelo Gallardo.

Gallardo acknowledged that losing Mastantuono would leave a significant void in his squad and their plans going forward, since he had built them around the 17-year-old.

The midfielder progressed through the River academy and made his first-team debut in January 2024.

Earlier this month, River Plate finalized a deal with the Spanish giants, reportedly worth around $45 million, for the highly rated midfielder.

Mastantuono is Real Madrid’s third signing this summer, following Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth.

The Argentine manager expressed concern that Mastantuono needed more time to develop at River Plate, but conceded that early transfers have become a norm in today’s football landscape.

“It’s natural—we train players for the world. Everything is happening faster now; young players are leaving sooner, and I understand that’s just the reality of the game," Gallardo told ESPN on Friday.

“Our sporting plan for the year included him. Now we’ll have to adjust, because some players are simply very difficult to replace.

“We always knew Mastantuono would leave eventually, but it’s never easy for the fans. The transfer market dictates the timing."

Gallardo also shared that he’s trying to help Mastantuono stay focused on the tournament despite the media attention surrounding his move.

“All I ask is for him to play freely and try to block out the noise, even though that’s a tall order," he said. “I don’t bring up where he’s going to live or anything like that. I just want him to do what he does best—play football."

Following Saturday’s match against the Mexican side in Pasadena, River Plate are set to face Champions League runners-up Inter Milan on Wednesday.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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