Franco Mastantuono poised for Fiorentina loan move from Real Madrid

Fiorentina have reached an agreement with Real Madrid to sign Franco Mastantuono on a season-long loan, with an official announcement expected within hours, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

The deal would see the two clubs share responsibility for the Argentina international’s €3m salary during the campaign. Fiorentina will not have an option to buy Mastantuono at the end of the initial loan.

Real Madrid invested more than €60m in the player a year ago and have no desire to make his move permanent, despite a disappointing first season at the club. Instead, they have allowed Mastantuono to choose a destination where he is likely to play regularly and continue adapting to European football.

The agreement is understood to have been driven by Fiorentina sporting director Fabio Paratici, whose relationship with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez helped him persuade the Spanish club to approve the transfer.

Mastantuono is expected to travel to Florence on Thursday, or by Friday at the latest, to complete the formalities of the move.

The Argentine has reportedly been convinced by discussions with Fiorentina manager Fabio Grosso. Grosso told the player he would be a regular starter in a squad containing a significant number of new arrivals.

Fiorentina are aiming to recover from a poor campaign which came close to ending in relegation to the second tier. Their ambition is to return to the top end of the table and secure qualification for European competition at the end of the upcoming season.

Should that objective be achieved, the loan agreement would be extended for a further year. That provision would give Fiorentina the chance to retain Mastantuono if he establishes himself as an important member of Grosso’s side.

The move follows efforts to overcome competition from English clubs and other Italian teams interested in the midfielder. Fiorentina have now secured the chance to add another highly valued player to their squad, with Mastantuono choosing a club that can offer him more playing time than he received during his first season with Real Madrid.

Paratici’s work in the current summer transfer window has strengthened Fiorentina’s position in the Italian market, while his ties with Perez have been crucial in progressing the deal. Although the transfer remains subject to its official confirmation, AS reports that the agreement between the clubs has already been completed.

Mastantuono’s arrival would give Fiorentina a player Real Madrid continue to view as a long-term asset, while providing the youngster with an opportunity to regain momentum through regular first-team football.