At one point it was reported from the Spanish capital that Real Madrid were well on their way to signing River Plate star Franco Mastantuono. Yet interest in the 17-year-old seems to have cooled.
Earlier this year, Marca had reported that Mastantuono was keen to join Los Blancos, and that they had agreed terms. However, the tone has changed since then, with the same outlet explaining that it was the signing of his new contract until 2026 that reduced interest in him.
Mastantuono, who turns 18 next summer, signed a new contract with a release clause of 45 million euros. Not only did Real Madrid find that too expensive, but they also did not appreciate the teenager's approach or the fact that he did not inform them of their intentions. They believed that he had negotiated in bad faith and decided to stay away from it.
The same seems to have happened when the likes of Barcelona were also put off by the price tag. Although they could now be ready for him again, the same thing happened to AC Milan.
Los Blancos have developed a reputation for refusing to get involved in deals that do not meet the financial parameters that suit them. The main example is Leny Yoro, who was one of their top targets last summer, but their refusal to increase their bid for the French defender saw him join Manchester United.
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