Mastantuono reveals Xabi Alonso’s key role in his Real Madrid move

Franco Mastantuono revealed that a conversation with coach Xabi Alonso was the decisive factor in his decision to join Real Madrid — the club he will represent starting this August.

The young River Plate talent is currently playing in the Club World Cup with his team — where they will face Inter in Seattle in their next match.

“The way he spoke to me was incredible. I’m very grateful for how he treated me. Our conversation greatly influenced my decision,” Mastantuono told DAZN.

“If a coach wants you, that’s a huge vote of confidence for a player. Leaving a big club like River isn’t easy, so his words really motivated me to take this step,” he added.

Los Blancos managed to secure the signature of River Plate’s youngest ever goalscorer — beating competition from Paris Saint-Germain after monitoring his performance for the past two years.

“Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, the team with the most trophies in Europe. Any player would want to play there. It’s a dream I want to enjoy,” said Mastantuono.