Despite a string of poor performances, young Argentine star Mastantono is still firmly named in the starting right wing by Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa. However, boos from fans and doubts from club legends have pushed the youngster signed from River Plate into a crisis of confidence.
In the recent match against Rayo Vallecano, he delivered another lacklustre display and was largely anonymous throughout the game. He even faced jeers of discontent from the Bernabéu stands when he was substituted. Having been at Real Madrid for some time, he still seems unable to find his rhythm and the right role for himself.
Mario Kempes, Argentine football legend and the 1978 World Cup Golden Boot winner, did not mince his words: “It’s certainly not easy, but he has to be more proactive and show more grit. Real Madrid signed him for the flair and attacking impetus he displayed at River Plate – yet those qualities are nowhere to be seen now. If he keeps playing like this, his time at Real Madrid will be short-lived.”
Kempes also drew a comparison with Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal: “Look at Yamal – he dares to take on defenders and shoot, and even if he loses the ball, he chases it back immediately to keep pressing. Mastantono needs to find that same courage. He probably has to run and fight harder than the other star players in the team to secure his place at this Real Madrid side.”
In truth, playing as a winger is simply not a good fit for Mastantono. He rarely takes on opponents one-on-one and has poor ability to beat defenders down the flank, instead tending to drift inside and move towards the middle of the pitch. During his time at River Plate, the position where he truly shone was attacking midfielder – a role where he could link up play and make late runs to score decisive goals. Unfortunately, Real Madrid’s midfield is now firmly occupied by Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler, leaving no room for him at all.
Interestingly, both former manager Xabi Alonso and current boss Álvaro Arbeloa have insisted on playing him on the right wing. What they value is not his creativity, but his enthusiasm in high pressing and defensive solidity when tracking back – especially behind attacking wingers Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, Mastantono’s hard running has become a tactical stopgap for the team.
Mastantono himself has admitted the difficulty of this role change. As early as Xabi Alonso’s tenure, he told Cadena SER in an interview: “At River Plate, I was the core player, playing with freedom and able to cut inside to organise play at any time. Now the coach tells me to stay wide along the touchline. It’s not what I’m used to, but I will do my best to follow the instructions. After all, this is Real Madrid, and I’m willing to do whatever the team needs.”
Looking back at Arbeloa’s team selection since taking charge: he gave Mastantono a chance in his debut Copa del Rey match against Alavés, where the whole team underperformed and Mastantono was substituted in the 77th minute; he then came on as a substitute against Levante, before returning to the starting line-up in the match against Villarreal – Arbeloa’s best game in charge so far; but in the recent match against Rayo Vallecano, he started again yet produced another goalless and unimpressive showing.
Now, his place in the team is facing increasingly fierce competition. Luis Díaz has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations with his form steadily improving; Rodrygo has recovered from injury and boasts better experience and finishing ability. Not to mention that Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde can also play as makeshift right wingers – the former featured on this flank under Xabi Alonso, while the latter is expected to push forward to support the attack if Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to right-back.
