Barcelona keeping close tabs on 16-year-old Argentine prodigy with $30 million buyout clause

Barcelona have set their sights on another South American prodigy in the form of Franco Mastantuono, a 16-year-old playmaker who plies his trade for River Plate in Argentina, reports SPORT.

The Blaugrana have always been attentive to up-and-coming jewels across the globe, with the South American continent being a particularly keen area of interest.

Vitor Roque was signed last year while a number of other talents from Brazil and Argentina are being monitored, with Mastantuono now joining the list.

A special talent

The emergence on the scene of Franco Mastantuono is the football news of 2024 in Argentina.

The teenage prodigy became the third youngest player in River’s history to make his debut, surpassing the likes of Javier Saviola and Pablo Aimar. And when he got his first start, he capped it with his first goal.

A precocious talent coming through the ranks of the River Plate academy, the 16-year-old attacking midfielder just made history by becoming the youngest player to participate in the River Plate – Boca Juniors Superclásico.

The left-footed, physically gifted attacking talent is regarded as one of the most promising young talents with a very high ceiling. Mastantuono is known to have great vision and a keen eye for a goal.

Barça, like several other European giants, are gathering information on this jewel.

River has him under armour. His first professional contract expires in December 2025. His termination clause stands at $30 million, although it increases to $35 million in the last ten days of each transfer window.