Inter has always had a special relationship with Argentina, fueled by many successful ventures over time, and also by the presence of a legend such as Javier Zanetti, Inter’s vice president. It is no coincidence, therefore, that the new South American mission of Baccin brings with it the name of one of the great talents of Argentine soccer.
His name is Franco Mastantuono, a jewel from the 2007 class of River Plate. As reported by the Corriere dello Sport, his name is already a hot one in Europe, with several big clubs having noted the very young attacking midfielder. Above all, there would be Real Madrid, a hypothesis however that has cooled off recently.
The operation would be in line with Oaktree’s desire to focus on young, rising talents. However, the complication arises due to the competition with the Spanish club and the valuation of the player. Mastantuono already has a very high valuation, with a release clause of 41 million euros. The 17-year-old’s contract is currently set to expire in 2026, but River Plate has the option to automatically renew the agreement for another year.
Inter Passion’s Opinion
Signing Mastantuono would be a huge leap forward for Inter at the market ambitions level. It would send a message to other top European clubs, and it would be a significant investment in a very young player.
Aoperation like this is very unusual and therefore seems complicated today. Oaktree wants to focus on young talent, but at the same time cannot allow Inter’s management to incur high expenses, which would create a financial imbalance.
