THis famous January slopes served as a starting point for Mastatuono. The Argentine player has overcome the hardships of Puvardzia’s absence from action for a month and is enjoying playing soccer with ease once again. And he did it when he needed it most, in the midst of a storm that threatened to wipe out any shred of confidence at a collective level. As Madrid find themselves in a strange and changing environment, Franco has turned his absence from the side into an opportunity to assert himself.
The first moment occurred in Albacete, where he rediscovered his goal-scoring touch, diving on the ball inside the area. It wasn’t enough to avoid a huge failure against the Segunda Division team, but on an individual level we did our best. Then, in the match against Levante, he came on as a substitute in the second half, when the scoreline was blank and there was a hostile atmosphere for the team. Whistling, criticism, and furious crowds. He was undaunted. Along with Guler, he was one of the most exciting players in the 2-0 win, which Madrid desperately needed.
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However, it was against Monaco that Franco completed his reauthorization. He made an electric start, with an earthquake down the right flank, reminding everyone why Real Madrid paid more than 60 million euros for him last summer. In the 55th minute, he got his reward. He scored with his weak foot, making him the second-youngest Argentine player to score in the Champions League at the age of 18 years and 159 days, after Messi. It wasn’t just a goal. He worked for the team, played in every attack, coordinated well and showed the personality that Real Madrid fans appreciate.
Because Mastanduono has shown in recent weeks that patience can be a virtue when accompanied by talent and hard work. He arrived from River Plate at the age of 18, knowing he would have to undergo a period of adaptation to European football in the colors of another giant, Real Madrid.
After his scoring baptism in the Champions League, Mastantuono also gave lessons on self-criticism and character in front of the microphone. “I’m not the new Messi or Real Madrid’s worst player,” he said with a mature look on his face. He spoke clearly and concisely about his team’s mistakes and defended Vinicius as the whistle blew. “We’re not stupid. We know what we did wrong. We understand what happened to Vini, but it’s unfair that he’s the only one getting booed.” He also had time to joke, explaining that he had returned to the style he had when he arrived in Madrid and reminded him of Eminem. “Other styles were slower and heavier. I got tired of my hair and tried different things,” he said.
January is proving to be the month of Argentines. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he is now emerging as an excellent student. It was worth the wait and the talent did the rest. A difficult month of ups and downs for Madrid has been a boost on the pitch. The next step is to make sure the rest remains unchanged.
