Franco Mastantuono is set to join Fiorentina from Real Madrid on a season-long dry loan, with the clubs agreeing a deal that has no permanent purchase option and splits the wages between them. The 18-year-old is expected in Italy for a medical and the rest of the formalities.

The terms of the deal

This is not a buy-to-test arrangement. It is a straight loan, and that is the main point here. Real Madrid will cover a significant portion of Mastantuono's wages, while Fiorentina pay a share, which makes the move workable for both clubs without handing over control of the player.

There is a small split in the reporting on how long he will stay, with Fabrizio Romano saying Mastantuono will play in Serie A until the end of the 2026-27 season, while other reporting frames it as a season-long move after his medical. Either way, the structure is clear enough: Fiorentina get the player on a temporary basis, and Madrid keep the option to reassess next summer.

Why both clubs have signed off

Fiorentina finished 15th in Serie A on 42 points, so adding a high-upside attacker on a temporary deal fits their position. Mastantuono also arrives with a proper pedigree. Real Madrid spent €45m to sign him from River Plate last summer, and he already has a full season of LaLiga and Champions League football plus four Argentina caps.

The move also sits neatly with Madrid's current squad picture. They have won four of their last five league games, while Brahim Diaz has four goal contributions in six appearances and Endrick has four appearances. That is a crowded attacking group, and it helps explain why a loan to Florence makes sense right now. Fiorentina supporters have already given him a hero's welcome at the airport, so the mood around the move is positive before he even completes the medical.

The next step is simple: Mastantuono travels through the medical and formalities, then Fiorentina can start planning around a player they will only have for the loan spell.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →