Real Madrid sign Argentine wonderkid, 17, in £38.5m deal… as Man United target’s arrival casts fresh doubt over Rodrygo’s future at the Bernabeu

Real Madrid have completed the signing of Argentine wonderkid Franco Mastantuono from River Plate in a £38.5million deal.

The 17-year-old attacking midfielder, who became Argentina’s youngest-ever player in a competitive match just last week, has signed a six-year contract that will officially begin on August 14 – the day he turns 18.

Madrid triggered Mastantuono’s £38.5m release clause, setting a new transfer record for River Plate, who developed the prodigious talent through their ranks.

Already a regular for River Plate’s first team over the past two seasons, Mastantuono made headlines when he became the youngest goalscorer in the fiercely contested Superclásico against Boca Juniors.

His historic Argentina debut came in a World Cup qualifier against Chile, where he was introduced as a late substitute in a 1-0 win, making him the youngest player to ever represent the national side in a competitive fixture.

Mastantuono becomes Madrid’s third signing of the summer, following the high-profile arrivals of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth as Los Blancos continue to shape their squad ahead of next season. 

The 17-year-old became Argentina’s youngest-ever player in a competitive match last week

Mastantuono’s arrival casts more doubt over Rodrygo’s future at the Bernabeu 

The teenagers’ arrival adds further uncertainty to the future of Rodrygo, who has already faced increased competition for a place in the starting XI.

Rodrygo put big clubs across Europe on alert when he reportedly told Madrid he never wanted to play for them again having refused to feature in last month’s El Clasico against Barcelona.

The Brazilian winger was said to be upset about playing a secondary role behind superstar team-mates Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham, and was increasingly warming the bench under Carlo Ancelotti last season.

Los Blancos would demand a significant fee if they are to part ways with Rodrygo, believed to be somewhere in the region of £70m.

Arsenal defender Gabriel thinks his compatriot would be more than worth the money for the north London outfit.

‘I don’t know,’ he responded when asked by the Podpah Podcast if Rodrygo would be arriving at the Emirates this summer.

‘But I’d like obviously. He’s a phenomenon.

‘I’ve told people already, he’s a phenomenon! If it was up to me, of course!’