Franco Mastantuono couldn't hide his excitement as he prepared to leave Buenos Aires for Madrid, where he will officially begin his new journey with Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have paid €45 million to River Plate for the 17-year-old talent from Azul.

Speaking at Ezeiza International Airport before his flight, Mastantuono said, “I’m really happy. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. It feels great to finally be traveling and to return to Madrid.”

When asked about comparisons to the legendary Alfredo Di Stéfano—brought up by MARCA—Franco responded with humility and ambition: “He was a great player, a true legend of football. I said I wanted to follow in his footsteps, playing at River, then going to Madrid. It’s a dream for me to walk the same path, and hopefully I can achieve something similar.”

As for his shirt number at Real Madrid, Mastantuono admitted he still doesn’t know. “I’ll find out when I arrive,” he said. And when asked whether he’d like to wear the iconic No. 10, especially now that Kylian Mbappé claimed it, he added with a smile, “I’d love to, but if he takes it, it’s his right; he’s an idol.”

Franco Mastantuono will turn 18 on August 14. Once he reaches legal age, he’ll be eligible to join Xabi Alonso’s squad and begin preseason training with Real Madrid, marking the start of a new chapter in his already promising career.

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