Thierry Henry Urges Florentino Pérez to Sign Promising Young Star He Believes Will Surpass Lamine Yamal
With the football season wrapped up, attention now turns to the summer transfer window, where Real Madrid is expected to be a major contender. After a season plagued by injuries that disrupted their progress, the club is looking to strengthen its squad. In this light, legendary French striker Thierry Henry has offered strong advice to Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez—urging him to sign a rising Argentine star he described as a “phenomenon.”
Speaking on CBS Sports’ Stunning Goal, Henry remarked, “People often claim no one will surpass Messi or Cristiano. But before them, there were legends like Pelé, Maradona, Zidane, and Ronaldo. Then came Lamine Yamal. Now, there’s another name: Mastantuono. He’s only 17 and scored a stunning free-kick winner in El Clásico against Boca Juniors. That’s football’s magic.”
Henry added, “It’s amazing to see someone so young control a game’s tempo. I wish him well, but we must avoid putting too much pressure on his shoulders. Let him enjoy playing.”
Claudio Echeverri Mastantuono, an Argentine midfielder, recently shone in the Superclásico for River Plate, impressing fans with a beautifully executed free-kick goal. Real Madrid had shown serious interest in him last summer, but talks broke down due to River Plate’s high asking price—his release clause stands at €45 million.
Despite his youth, Mastantuono is widely seen as one of Argentina’s top emerging talents and has attracted interest from elite European clubs like Manchester City and PSG. However, those close to him say he prefers a move to Spain, especially Real Madrid.
Previously, Real Madrid attempted to negotiate more favorable terms, offering to pay in two installments and allow Mastantuono to stay at River Plate on loan for another year. River Plate rejected this proposal, and Pérez remained firm in following the club’s transfer policy.
Although no agreement has been reached, Real Madrid continues to monitor the situation. They may still move forward with the deal—if the financial conditions align with the club’s strategy.
