Report: Man Utd to rival Real Madrid & Man City for Argentine starlet | OneFootball

Manchester United have been tipped to move for River Plate prodigy Franco Mastantuono when the January transfer window opens.

Mastantuono was only 16 when he became River Plate's youngest ever goalscorer in February of this year, quickly emerging as a player of interest to some of Europe's biggest clubs.

The Argentine giants quickly took care not to leave themselves exposed to a cut-price transfer swoop and secured Mastantuono to a new two-year contract until December 2026 with a €45m (£37.5m) release clause as soon as the following month.

Real Madrid have been most heavily linked with the 17-year-old attacking midfielder, with some Spanish reports during the summer unsurprisingly alleging that personal terms have already been agreed following negotiations spearheaded by renowned chief scout Juni Calafat. But Manchester City are also rumoured to be on his tail, predicted by some to 'blow up' Madrid's approach.

ESPN Argentina now puts Manchester United in the picture too. Not only holding an interest, but seemingly prepared to make an approach during Argentina’s off-season this winter.

If United, or indeed any overseas club, were successful, Mastantuono would have to stay in Argentina for at least another few months. FIFA rules do not allow the international transfers of players under the age of 18 unless their family moves for non-footballing reasons.

Mastantuono will turn 18 next August, which will fall in the middle of Argentina's 2025 season.

Mastantuono iis 17 years of age / Rodrigo Valle/GettyImages

With clubs more conscious of budgets or spending limitations and established superstars at the top of the transfer market potentially out of reach for even the wealthiest, or simply not viewed as good value, it is becoming increasingly common for clubs to invest in the future.

That means spending money on potential, something which Real Madrid have done several times in the South American market. Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and, most recently, Endrick have all been signed from Brazilian clubs for sizeable sums before the age of 18. It isn’t always a home run swing, however, with Barcelona quickly regretting their capture of Vitor Roque.

Manchester United didn't have brilliant success with Facundo Pellistri, bought for a relatively small fee from Uruguay's Penarol at the age of 18, but the much more expensive capture of Amad Diallo at the same time from Atalanta finally looks more likely to pay off after considerable patience.

Chelsea are waiting for Ecuador international Kendry Paez to turn 18, having struck a transfer with Independiente del Valle just a month after his 16th birthday in 2023, while the Blues will also bring Estevao Willian over from Brazil next year. Last January, Manchester City snapped up River Plate's Claudio Echeverri, who was already 18 at the time, but left him on loan in Argentina.