💥Academy Baller… Franco Mastantuono🇦🇷 Club: River Plate Nationality: Argentina Position(s): AM, RW Preferred Foot: Left Height: 5’11”/180cm Age: 16 Strengths: spatial awareness, vision, dribbling, weight of pass, ball-striking, set-pieces Development Areas: weak-foot usage

Franco Mastantuono is River Plate’s latest star. A creative genius who’s breaking through into the first team. Recently making his debut vs Barracas Central with an impressive performance showing immense maturity. 🎥: @isaruggeri_

In fact in a recent cup game vs Excursionistas he scored his first goal for the club becoming the youngest goal-scorer ever for River Plate. A record previously held by former Barcelona player Javier Saviola. 🎥: @TyCSportsPlay

Mastantuono’s awareness of space is one of his most impressive traits. Throughout the game he’s constantly finding space in between the lines to create dangerous chances for the team. His game IQ is insane. 🎥: @isaruggeri_

Franco Mastantuono understands what the game needs. Able to slow the pace of the game by turning back and recycling possession, take on players, cut inside to shoot or pass through the spaces between defenders.

One of the most impressive aspects of this is how much Mastantuono takes on responsibility. Demands the ball whether it’s from teammates or the opponents and does what he can to get it. Then when he has the ball, he identifies the space and then attacks it.

Mastantuono’s weight of pass is so often bang on. Loves to play clipped passes into central areas from the RW. But interestingly Franco has the understanding to time his release well, he’ll take his time on the ball to wait for the optimal time to pass. Elite IQ.

The combination of Mastantuono’s ability to shift the ball quickly to create space to shoot plus his ball-striking and shooting technique makes him deadly outside the box. Don’t. Give. Him. Space. 🎥: @FBallerscout

Another threat up Mastantuono’s sleeve is his deadly free-kicks. Many different types of shots too. Whipped curling free-kicks, striking the ball from distance through his laces, outside of the foot ‘trivela’. 🎥: @RiverRMG

A scoring threat from free-kicks with deadly ball-striking. But in addition, can also use free-kicks to whip crosses into the box too. Accurate delivery or hitting shots right into the corners. 🎥: @TyCSportsPlay

Mastantuono is growing in confidence game by game. Taking on increasing responsibility. Showing more bravery on the ball to take on players, play through balls and shoot from distance. Creating from set-pieces. 🎥: @isaruggeri_

Whatever position he plays in, Mastantuono needs to be given freedom to drift into spaces. As a wide creator he drifts into the right half-space to attack the space in behind the opponent’s midfield. As a 10 he’ll even drift out the LW. Allows him to shine.

In terms of his development areas, there’s 2 main ones: physicality and his weak-foot usage. Physicality is expected, he’s only 16. But at 5’11”, he has a good duel winning capacity as his body matures. It’ll really enhance his ability to take control and influence games.

Despite this comment, I don’t mean he’s weak, he’s the opposite. He’s actually physically mature for his age and loves to congest duels. But I mean to take his game to another level I’d love to see him develop this even more and increase his intensity.

Secondly, his weak-foot usage. Mastantuono has a bit of an over-reliance on his left foot. In terms of his ability on his right, he often executes well. But the issue is how frequent he uses it. To be even more unpredictable as a creator, he needs to work on this area.

Positionally right now I think it’s best for Mastantuono to play in a vast array of positions behind the front line to gain a deeper understanding of the game. But as a #10 and second striker are where his ceiling is highest. Freedom to float around the pockets behind the #9 .

Mastantuono spoke about his #30 is to pay homage for his childhood hero Lionel Messi as #30 was also Messi’s first number when he broke through at Barcelona. Despite also being a left-footed Argentinian playing off the right or as a #10 , he’s a slightly different profile.

Franco is an elite potential creator. Gives me shades of Kevin De Bruyne. A blend of height, athleticism, perfect weight of pass, ball-striking, ‘game-winning moments’ ability. Add the physicality and weak-foot usage, and we might be onto something.

For now, it’s too early for Mastantuono to move anywhere. But with how elite clubs are operating now, it’s likely that a top club will try to secure his future early then allow him to continue developing at River Plate. Similar to the Endrick and Vinícius Jr. deals.

Mastantuono is part of a really exciting quartet coming through at River Plate right now with all of Claudio Echeverri (18), Agustín Ruberto (18) and Ian Subiabre (17) impressing so much at youth levels for club and country and now breaking through into the first team.

Watch out for the lot of them and Franco Mastantuono. If he continues to show this level of ability and ability to affect games at the senior level, it won’t be long before he’s snapped up by someone. Thanks for reading. All the support is always greatly appreciated🤝