Updated: 24 Apr 2026 13:01 BST |
5 min read
West Ham should make Real Madrid their first destination in the summer for strengthening Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad if they retain their Premier League status.
Real Madrid are ready to put exciting young talent Franco Mastantuono up for loan in the summer, with the aim of earning the 18-year-old regular game time, Marca reports.
West Ham is a strong destination for the young Argentine, according to data analytics experts SciSports.
Real Madrid to send Mastantuono on loan
Breaking through at Real Madrid has proven no easy task, even for the best young talents. Nico Paz had to leave for Como in order to shine at a first-team level, while Endrick was sent on loan to Lyon in January.
Now it is Mastantuono’s turn to move on.
While the €45m arrival from River Plate started the season with some promise under Xabi Alonso, he has become increasingly peripheral under Alvaro Arbeloa. He has made only six appearances since 8 February, each one of them coming as a substitute and accounting for only 95 minutes of action.
“The lack of confidence is obvious,” Marca writes. “At 18, inconsistency is to be expect, but his season has fallen far short of expectations: 30 matches, three goals and one assist.”
Real Madrid want to get him back to his best, and they have decided that Mastantuono needs to move away from the spotlight of the Spanish capital and “return as a different player”.
Mastantuono to West Ham: Real Madrid star is a smart fit for Nuno
West Ham could offer Mastantuono a strong platform at which to continue his career, according to SciSports’ Career Advice tool. This measures the strength of a transfer move based on a variety of factors that include development, pitch time, playing style and formation.
With Mastantuono focusing on game time, the analysis has been skewed to take this into account. West Ham get an excellent Club Fit score of 82.
While there are questions over how he might develop in the short term at West Ham, what is key is putting him in an environment in which he can play and flourish. The Premier League side could give him this, as they score strongly otherwise across the board.
What type of player would West Ham be getting?
Former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso hailed Mastantuono, who controversially cited Lionel Messi as his favourite player during his introduction with Los Blancos, as a “special talent”.
Alonso said: “I think he can play in the front line, and as a playmaker as well.
“At River Plate he often played as a No. 10, as a playmaker, and then started moving out to the wing. I think he can do both. He has that mobility, and he likes combining with those around him.”
Away from the field, Alonso was impressed with the teenager.
“The first time I spoke to Mastantuono, I was struck by his personality,” he explained. “He was 17 then, and he was very sure of himself. He didn’t seem at all concerned about making the jump to Real Madrid. That maturity and quality has been evident since he arrived. I know he’ll settle in quickly, both on the pitch and in the dressing room.
“He’ll bring us quality and energy, he’s highly committed. He’s got great drive from a defensive perspective. In the little time I’ve spent with him I can see that Argentine spirit, he’s a warrior, but he’s got quality, too. He’s a combative player and he’s got a beautiful left foot, both from set-pieces and in the final pass. He’s got lovely technique and he’s very young. We have to guide him, but he’s already playing at a very decent level.”
Mastantuono has all the attributes to be a favourite at West Ham, and with the attacker able to provide an instant injection of quality and energy to the forward line, hooking up with the Real Madrid starlet on loan would offer an instant upgrade ahead of the new season.
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