Franco Mastantuono's next move is moving closer to a decision. Real Madrid are scheduled to meet his camp this week, and the club are weighing whether the 18-year-old stays with the first team or goes out on loan for the 2026-27 season. Madrid paid €63 million including taxes and commissions for him, so this is not a minor piece of planning.

Benfica are the clearest European option

Benfica are described as the strongest candidate if Madrid choose the loan route. Their Europa League involvement is part of the appeal, because the idea is to keep Mastantuono developing in Europe rather than leave him buried behind a crowded right-wing queue.

The scale of Madrid's attack makes that argument easy to understand. They finished second in La Liga in 2025, while Benfica finished third in Primeira Liga and also posted a 2025 Champions League record of 3 wins, 5 losses, 10 goals scored and 12 conceded. That is still a demanding setting for a young winger, just not the kind where minutes are handed out by default.

River Plate remain the sentimental alternative

There is still another route in the background. Mastantuono would prefer to return to River Plate if he leaves on loan, according to The Athletic via MD, but Madrid would rather keep him in Europe and use a loan similar to Endrick's temporary move to Lyon.

That preference matters because the club are not deciding whether he belongs at all. They are deciding whether regular football now helps more than a season of first-team depth. Mastantuono is 18, he had a difficult first season affected by pubalgia issues and limited minutes, and the meeting this week is the point where Madrid have to settle the direction of travel.

Mario Cortegana said: "Real Madrid will hold talks with Mastantuono’s agents in the coming days as they evaluate whether the Argentine remains with the first team or heads out on loan for the 2026-27 season."

That is the question Madrid now have to answer, and Benfica look like the front-runner if the answer is loan. The meeting with Mastantuono's camp this week should clarify whether he stays to fight for a place or leaves for minutes elsewhere.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →