The season is not yet over, but the summer transfer market is already heating up. As it usually happens from time to time, South America is once again the epicenter of the radar for the major clubs of the European elite. This time, the attention has been especially focused on Argentina, where a young prospect has managed to spark the interest of the continent's giants with dazzling performances.
Clubs like AC Milan, Inter Milan, and PSG have already made their first moves, but FC Barcelona has been closely watching this young star for months. Deco and company are convinced that they could have a winning card to strengthen their project for the future. However, the Catalan club's plans could be seriously threatened by the emergence of one of the most powerful rivals in the market: Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Firm Bet
The coach has taken the race for Franco Mastantuono seriously and, according to the latest information, Manchester City is the best positioned for the River Plate talent. Guardiola has been impressed with the potential of the young Argentine and wants to repeat the formula that already worked for him with Julián Álvarez. It's no wonder: they want to sign him as soon as possible, train him in a competitive environment, and exploit his growth under a clear and defined play style.
Mastantuono, at just 17 years old, is already one of the most important young talents: he has broken historical records and made his mark both at River and in Argentina's youth teams. His creativity and ability to reach the opponent's field are qualities that fit perfectly into Guardiola's style. Therefore, City has decided they will activate his 40M clause without any problems, and that puts the English in a privileged position compared to other offers.
Barça, Attentive
At Camp Nou, the situation is very different. Although the sports management recognizes Mastantuono's perfect fit in the Barça play style, economic limitations prevent competing on equal terms in the market. Any move in that direction would first require a significant sale or an influx of capital that, for now, is not guaranteed at all.
Moreover, the competition is fierce. Financially powerful teams like PSG are also closely following the Argentine attacking midfielder, which further reduces Barça's options. In this scenario, the possibility of seeing Mastantuono in the Barça jersey becomes more complicated with each passing day, while Pep Guardiola pushes to sign him as soon as possible.