Franco Mastantuono has joined Real Madrid from River Plate.
Mastantuono has signed a deal with the Spanish giants. Real Madrid announced the signing on Friday, stating that he will be joining them as of August 14 until June 30, 2031.
The Argentine will take part in the Club World Cup with River Plate later this month. At 17 years of age, he is the latest Argentine to join Madrid from the Argentine club.
He recently played his first match with the Argentina national team, having been substituted in during Argentina’s 1-0 win against Chile in the World Cup qualifiers.
Matías Almeyda is set to become the new coach of Sevilla.
Almeyda is going to be coaching in Spain. According to César Luis Merlo, the Argentine is the new coach of the Spanish club. There is a verbal agreement with documents being exchanged and a contract until June 2028 will be signed.
Having played at the club from 1996-1997, Almeyda previously coached River Plate, Banifled, Guadalajara, San Jose Earthquakes and AEK Athens. With those five clubs, he has won nine trophies, one of which was the CONCACAF Champions League in 2018 with Guadalajara.
In a recent appearance on the YouTube channel Los Edul, World Cup winner Leandro Paredes shared his thoughts on fatherhood, club football, his relationship with Lionel Messi and Neymar, and what the future might hold with Boca Juniors.
Asked about his life in Rome, Paredes reflected on a hectic but joyful time. “We’re sleeping well with the baby. He wakes up to feed, but then goes right back to sleep. Everything’s 10 out of 10.”
Settling back in Italy has special meaning for his family. “Rome is a city we love. We’ve always said this could be where we live after I retire. We’re really happy here.”
His return to Roma was full of ups and downs. “It was a very tough season. We started with a coach we knew well and trusted, and after three games he was sacked. That changed everything. I went from playing 90 minutes every game to not playing at all.”
When asked about the shift under Daniele De Rossi, he said: “With Claudio, everything changed. He gave me confidence, he valued me, and he always told me he wanted me to stay.”
Paredes admitted the benching made him question his future. “I even thought about returning to Argentina. Not playing for two months really affected my mood.”
Regarding the Argentina national team, Paredes explained that despite his long-standing presence in the squad, he never takes his place for granted. “I was scared I wouldn’t be called up because I wasn’t playing. Even though I’m part of the base Scaloni talks about, the fear was there.”
His recent performances for Argentina, including the wins over Uruguay and Brazil, reaffirmed his value. “It had been a long time since I played both games in a double matchday. Playing the way I did in those matches was spectacular.”
On the emotional Copa América final moment with Messi: “It hurt to see him like that on the bench, knowing he couldn’t continue. When I came in, I gave my all—for him, for the team.”
He also shared what Neymar texted him after Argentina’s dominant win in Brazil: “He sent me a video from the game laughing and said, ‘You didn’t have to play like that!’” “He’s incredibly respectful. Never once has he said anything bad about us. That’s why I admire him even more.”
Looking ahead, Paredes didn’t hide his dream: “Another World Cup and winning the Copa Libertadores with Boca. That’s the dream.”
Asked if there’s space on his body for a new tattoo if he wins it, he smiled: “Yes, I’ve got a spot ready for it.”
His connection to Boca Juniors remains alive. “The desire is always there. My family, my friends, they all want to see me back in Argentina. I watch every game when the schedule allows.”
Paredes also hinted at a potential reunion in Argentina with a close friend and longtime teammate. “I drive Dybala crazy,” he laughed. “As he said, he was a Boca fan as a kid and has the dream of playing in Argentine football. So I always tell him, if we go back to Argentina, come with me.”
And about the young Boca midfielder Milton Delgado: “He plays really well. Very smart, very dynamic. I hope he keeps growing.”
As for the future, Paredes acknowledged he might follow a coaching path—with a twist: “I don’t want to be the head coach. I want to be the assistant. Less responsibility—I’ll let Fide (Di María) handle the pressure.”
Thiago Almada, the goalscorer in Argentina’s 1-1 draw against Colombia, spoke to the media after the match and reflected on his link-up play with Lionel Messi:
“With Leo (Messi), I try to find him and give the ball back to him. We all know what he’s capable of on the field.”
In addition to his goal, the former Vélez Sarsfield player was involved in several promising exchanges with Argentina’s number 10, displaying the potential of their partnership.
Regarding the result, Almada said:
“We always want to win at home, but fortunately we were able to grab a point at the end.”
“We knew what was at stake for them. We just had to stay calm and do what we always do.”
Lionel Scaloni spoke in a press conference following Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Colombia at El Monumental. He revealed that Lionel Messi asked to be subbed off, praised Thiago Almada’s performance, and reflected on the team’s attitude and tactical adjustments.
On Messi asking to be subbed off: “Initially, Messi wasn’t going to come off, but when he saw we were making two substitutions, he told me it was better for him to come off too, so I took him out—otherwise, he wouldn’t have left.”
On Thiago Almada’s performance: “He’s confident and willing to try things—that’s the best quality a footballer can have, not being afraid to ask for the ball. He’s been a great addition for us and gives us peace of mind. It reinforces the fact that we have many players who can contribute.”
On Argentina’s overall performance and tactical changes: “In the first half, we couldn’t find our rhythm, but in the end, football is not just about playing well. In the second half, the team changed its dynamic and we created chances.” “It was a good test to see how the team would react playing with three defenders.” “We leave satisfied. Of course, there are always things to review, but I’m happy—especially with how we played in the second half.”
On the substitutions and tactical plan: “The substitutions were tactical. With (Giuliano) Simeone and (Nicolás) González, we looked to create opportunities down the flanks.”
On the team’s mentality despite already being qualified: “Even under the conditions we played today—already having qualified—the players were fully focused on this match, and that’s incredible. In the end, the fans really appreciated the effort. The connection with the public is fantastic.”
On Colombia’s strategy and Argentina’s resilience: “They set up a very tight match, where the ball moved quickly, and if you weren’t precise, you could get caught on the counter.” “The best thing about the team, beyond always trying to play, was how quickly we recovered possession and never gave up on a play. From that point of view, we’re satisfied—that’s very important in modern football.”
On the difficulty of the qualifiers: “Today they realized that when we talk about the qualifiers being tough, it’s not just a cliché—it’s real.”
“Everyone gives a little extra when they play against us—that definitely happens. Every match is a battle. I don’t remember any easy qualifiers.”
On Colombian coach Néstor Lorenzo: “I appreciate and care about Néstor (Lorenzo). He’s doing a great job. We shared many moments together in 2006.”
On the fans’ support: “The fans gave us incredible support. It’s beautiful to see them singing like that. We always need their energy, and today, in a really tough moment of the match, we felt it. It motivates the players even more.”
