River Plate head coach Marcelo Gallardo has called for composure and a renewed focus on football as 17-year-old sensation Franco Mastantuono inches closer to a record-breaking transfer to Real Madrid.
The young midfielder is set to join the Spanish powerhouse in July after the club triggered his €63 million release clause, marking the most expensive outgoing transfer in the history of Argentine football.
Speaking ahead of River Plate’s pivotal FIFA Club World Cup opener against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, Gallardo urged both players and fans to remain grounded.
He highlighted that despite the global media spotlight on Mastantuono’s anticipated move, the team’s attention should remain fixed on their on-field objectives.
Gallardo made it clear that the team was in Seattle to play football and not to be distracted by external noise. He noted that while the moment was significant for both the team and Mastantuono, their main priority continued to be performance and results on the pitch.
Mastantuono has had a breakout season, registering seven goals and four assists in 19 appearances across all competitions. His technical skills and maturity have earned him comparisons to elite European midfielders and led to a senior national team call-up.
Earlier this month, he made history as the youngest player to appear in an official match for Argentina, debuting during a World Cup qualifier.
Despite the immense attention surrounding the youngster’s future, Gallardo stated that Mastantuono remained focused and composed ahead of Tuesday’s match at Lumen Field.
He dismissed any concerns that the impending transfer could affect either the player’s mental state or the squad’s cohesion.
Gallardo added that he intended to manage Mastantuono the same way he always had, describing him as a grounded player who simply wanted to play football.
He viewed the external developments as a natural part of the sport at this level and not a significant disruption.
The coach concluded by underlining the strong support Mastantuono received from his teammates and the club, emphasizing that the young midfielder was in a positive emotional and mental state.
As Mastantuono prepares for the next phase of his career, Gallardo’s leadership remains focused on keeping River Plate’s eyes firmly on global competition success.