Real Madrid lose out to PSG as River Plate teenager Franco Mastantuono opts to join Champions League winners after growing tired of waiting on La Liga giants

The 17-year-old appeared Madrid-bound at one point, but the Spanish club's reluctance to activate his €45 million (£38m/$51m) release clause allowed the French side to take the lead in the race for his signature.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Ligue 1 giants are pushing to complete the signing of the attacking midfielder, with talks ongoing for several weeks. However, no deal has been finalised yet.

According toSport, Los Blancos' hesitation stems from concerns about squad balance and the potential impact on existing young talents like Arda Guler and Nico Paz, who has been linked with a return from Como. The club are wary of overloading the squad with similar profiles, which could hinder the development of their current prospects.

Mastantuono is widely regarded as one of Argentina’s most exciting young talents. He made his senior debut for River Plate at just 16 years old and has already earned a call-up to Lionel Scaloni’s national team. He is set to travel with Argentina for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, securing his spot at an even younger age than Lionel Messi did.

With PSG leading the race, the focus shifts to finalising the deal. River Plate has yet to receive a formal offer, but negotiations are expected to accelerate in the coming days. If the transfer materialises, Mastantuono will join a PSG squad brimming with talent, aiming to build on their recent European success.