Franco Mastantuono has spoken about his admiration for Real Madrid and the experience of sharing a dressing room with some of football's biggest names. The Argentine youngster also discussed his connection with Lionel Messi and the differences between Italian, Spanish and Argentine football during an appearance on DAZN's My Skills.
Key Highlights
- Mastantuono praised his former Real Madrid teammates and named Jude Bellingham as the player he admires most at the club.
- The Argentine described playing alongside Lionel Messi as one of the greatest experiences of his career.
- The Fiorentina loanee highlighted the differences between Serie A and Spanish football, particularly in possession and physical duels.
- Fiorentina sit 16th in Serie A ahead of their home fixture against Juventus before the international break.
Mastantuono Names Bellingham as His Favourite Real Madrid Player
Mastantuono joined Real Madrid from River Plate in the summer of 2025, making 35 appearances across all competitions and recording three goals and one assist. Now on loan at Fiorentina, the young midfielder reflected on his time in Madrid during an appearance on the Italian programme My Skills on DAZN.
He praised the club's people and teammates for making him feel welcome, describing the experience of joining the dressing room as impressive. Among the talented players he shared the squad with, however, Jude Bellingham stood out as his favourite.
Mastantuono also recognised the quality of Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Federico Valverde and Brahim Diaz, while praising the overall strength of the Real Madrid squad.
Sharing the Argentina Dressing Room with Lionel Messi
The 18-year-old also reflected on his experience with Argentina's national team, where he has earned seven caps and scored one goal, including the opportunity to play alongside Lionel Messi.
Mastantuono described being part of the same team as the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner as an extraordinary experience, highlighting Messi's achievements and status in football. He also recalled the emotional occasion of Messi's final international appearance against Benin, in which he played an 11-minute cameo, describing the moment as very sad.
Mastantuono Adjusting to Italian Football at Fiorentina
Since moving to Fiorentina, Mastantuono has made 12 appearances across all competitions this season and scored four goals. Reflecting on the differences between Serie A and Spanish football, the midfielder explained that Italian teams place greater emphasis on technical ability and possession. He also noted similarities between Italian and South American football, particularly in the physical nature of challenges and individual battles for the ball.
Juventus Await Fiorentina Before International Break
Fiorentina head into their meeting with Juventus sitting 16th in the Serie A standings, having collected eight points from 10 matches. With only one point separating them from 18th-placed Monza, the Viola will be looking to improve their position when they welcome Juventus on Sunday, before the international break begins.
