16-year-old Barcelona target to be offered a new contract with an increased €40 million release clause

On Wednesday, reports emerged claiming that Barcelona had taken an interest in River Plate wonderkid Franco Mastantuono.

Just 16 years old, the left-footed playmaker has recently made his breakthrough into the first-team setup at the Argentine club and is already making big strides.

Mastantuono became the youngest-ever player to represent River Plate in a Superclasico against Boca Juniors earlier this week, while he already has a senior goal to his name.

Given his breakthrough, Barcelona and Manchester United are understood to be interested in the teenage prodigy, who can play as a central attacking midfielder or on the flanks.

River Plate alerted

Alerted by the development, River Plate are ready to act and offer a new and improved contract to Franck Mastantuono to keep him at the club, reports Joaquim Piera of SPORT.

The 16-year-old’s contract with the Argentine outfit runs until December 31, 2025 and the club wish to prolong it further by two more years until the end of December 2027.

The deal would come with an improved salary for the Barcelona target while River Plate would also wish to improve his release clause.

As per the report, Mastantuono’s buyout clause stands at €30 million which rises to €35 million in the last ten days of each transfer window.

And River Plate wish to increase it to €40 million, or even more, so as to keep European clubs like Barcelona from making a move for him as long as possible.

The €40 million would represent a milestone because it would be the highest termination clause in Argentinian football.

If it comes to fruition, and in Argentina they assure that there is feeling between both parties, it would be the second professional contract signed by Mastantuono in less than a year, after the one signed in August 2023 when he reached the age of 16.