Real Madrid are leading the race to sign 16-year-old attacking talent Franco Mastantuono, having moved ahead of the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, and sweetest of all for Madridistas, Barcelona.

Mastantuono’s name has been mentioned frequently in recent months, and as his impact in the first team under Martin Demichelis continues to grow, so has the speculation over his future. Barcelona were first linked with Mastantuono, and despite a keenness from the player to play for the Catalan side, their inability to move in the transfer window due to their finances will rule them out of the race.

Catalan outlet Sport say that while there is no offer for Mastantuono, Real Madrid chief scout Juni Calafat and General Manager Jose Angel Sanchez have contacted their counterparts at River Plate to discuss terms. Mastantuono recently signed a contract extension until the end of 2026, with a release clause of €45m. In the final 10 days of the transfer market, it rises to €50m.