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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Amanda Langell

‘Changed My Mind’—Franco Mastantuono Reveals How Xabi Alonso Convinced Him to Join Real Madrid

Franco Mastantuono Xabi Alonso Real Madrid River Plate River
Franco Mastantuono will join Real Madrid once he turn 18 years old. | IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire

Xabi Alonso played a direct role in Franco Mastantuono’s transfer from River Plate to Real Madrid.

After a lackluster 2024–25 campaign that ended without a major trophy, Real Madrid turned to the transfer market to bolster their team under new boss Alonso. The club signed three defensive reinforcements in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras, and also locked down 17-year-old Mastantuono.

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