Although reliance on young talents has been part and parcel of the history and tradition of FC Barcelona, the Catalan club has seen its emphasis on youth increase another notch in the last few years.
This is apparent from the high number of youngsters playing important roles in the current squad, and the Catalans once again showcased this intent when they signed Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense last summer, who joined up with his new teammates this January.
But there are other highly exciting youngsters like Vitor Roque playing in South America, and Barcelona seem to have set their eyes on just such a player. According to SPORT, the Catalans are gathering information about one of the most promising gems to arise in Argentina, Franco Mastantuono.
The left-footed attacking midfielder is gaining increased prominence in South America and has not only broken some records with his appearances at only 16 years of age but has also been instrumental in some of the most high-profile matches in the country.
Rising through the Millonarios youth academy, he was a part of the Argentina squad that participated in the U-17 World Cup in Indonesia last November, where his team finished fourth, but the spotlight was taken mostly by his teammate, Claudio Echeverri.
However, with the latter’s signing for City Group, Mastantuono is getting increased prominence from the new River Plate coach, Martín Demichelis. He has played on the right wing during his recent appearances, but his main position is that of an attacking midfielder.
He was the third youngest player to have made his debut with River Plate, and thus betters the record set by players like Pablo Aimar and Javier Saviola. He also became the youngster player to start in a Superclassico between Boca Juniors and River Plate last Sunday, in a match which ended 1-1.
He could have broken the deadline in the final minutes of the game, but even though he was unable to do that, he passed this test with flying colors.
His best attributes of vision, intelligence, and an eye for goal have set him apart in the last few months, and he has a contract with River Plate until December 2025, including a €30 million release clause.
While Barcelona might not be too keen to pay such a high release clause for a player as young as Mastantuono, it would still be worth the while to keep monitoring him and assess how he grows and develops in the future.