Man Utd’s €50m target can become the Red Devils’ Lamine Yamal

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2025 06:57 CDT
• 8 min read

Analysis

Manchester United have opened transfer talks with a player who can become their answer to Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal.

Lamine has excelled at the age of just 17 for the Catalans to such an extent that he has become one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or.

With Ruben Amorim’s side needing a similar spark, they have turned to teenage River Plate star Franco Mastantuono, opening discussions for a player who could move in a deal worth €50 million, TBR Football reports.

Current ETV

Franco Mastantuono

F (R)

River Plate

Franco Mastantuono

F (R)

River Plate

€18M

ETV Range

€16.2M - €19.8M

View full profile

Any deal will not be able to be completed until the end of August, when the player turns 18, yet there is a suggestion that a move could be pushed back until 2026.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City are all following the player, but Man Utd technical director Jason Wilcox is pushing for a deal.

Why Mastantuono is such an exciting prospect

Mastantuono is an attacking midfielder capable of featuring capable of playing off the right wing or in a more central role.

As well as citing Julian Alvarez as a player he tries to copy, he said: “I always look at Lionel Messi, who is my idol. I see what things he does, how he thinks and moves. He seems to me to be the best in the world, by far. I also like to watch Neymar and Phil Foden.”

According to data analytics experts SciSports, Mastantuono bears a strong resemblance to Lamine Yamal in terms of his playing style, although he is clearly not at the same level as the Barcelona star yet.

Franco Mastantuono vs Lamine Yamal: Playing Style

Mastantuno's River Plate stats (2025)

Nevertheless, he has been one of the most effective players in Argentine top-flight this season. While his three goals and three assists across his 10 appearances may appear relatively modest, he has huge chance creation, shooting and dribbling numbers.

While Mastantuono is no doubt a thrilling prospect, doubts have been cast upon his price tag.

Inter Milan vice president Javier Zanetti told La Derecha Diario: “For Inter, he’s expensive for his age. The time will come to sit down and plan the next season.”

Indeed, this should be something of a concern. Mastantuono has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €18m. This compares to Lamine Yamal’s ETV of €173m but is more importantly well below the price that River Plate have set for the exciting attacker.

There is, therefore, an element of risk if Man Utd decide to make a move for the teenage sensation, but the payoff could be spectacular.

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