Man Utd favourites to sign ‘new Lionel Messi’

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 4 May 2025 09:02 BST
• 3 min read

News

Manchester United are the favourites to sign River Plate wonderkid Franco Mastantuono.

That is according to TYC Sports, who report that United have made the decision to trigger the €45 million release clause in Mastantuono's River Plate contract.

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The 17-year-old is the new sensation of South American football and has been labelled as the 'new Lionel Messi'.

Most of Europe's biggest clubs are queuing up to sign Mastantuono, including Real Madrid, PSG, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer news

Man Utd favourites for Mastantuono

But TYC Sports reports that United are at the front of the queue for the attacking midfielder, who hit the headlines last week with a sensational goal for River Plate against rivals Boca Juniors.

The teenager curled home a left-footed free-kick from around 30 yards into the top corner.

United have been following Mastantuono for some time, and are now ready to trigger the €45m clause in his contract.

River Plate are determined to keep hold of their wonderkid for the rest of the calendar year, so it remains to be seen whether any potential transfer to United would come this year or next.

He will not turn 18 until August and, therefore, cannot move permanently until that point.

River Plate’s general secretary Stefano Di Carlo said recently: “Mastantuono is staying at River Plate for the entire year, that’s a given.”

Mastanuono exploded onto the scene in Argentina last year when it emerged that he turned down interest from Real Madrid in favour of signing a new deal with River Plate.

Madrid tried to bring in the playmaker last summer and they will make a new attempt this time around.

Mastantuono’s goal against Boca Juniors was the teenager’s fourth goal in 13 matches this season.