MADRID, 14 (EUROPA PRESS TELEVISION)
Argentine footballer Franco Mastantuono said this Thursday that he will give his all for the Real Madrid shirt, a club with which he signed a contract for the next six seasons, until 2031, and "so that Real Madrid fans can feel identified," while also revealing conversations with PSG and its coach, Luis Enrique Martínez, and defending that "the best player in the world is Messi."
"I'm very happy. I feel so full of energy... It was always my dream to play for Real Madrid, and today, to see all of that come true, in addition to celebrating my birthday, I think it's a dream come true for me," the young footballer told the media in the press room at the training ground.
Mastantuono expressed his gratitude for the club and fans' welcome, although he confessed to feeling "anxiety" in the days leading up to his official presentation. "They were wonderful days. I hadn't been to Madrid before, and I lived in a beautiful city where I felt very comfortable. I was waiting for this day to arrive, but with a lot of anxiety. Luckily, we're here now, and now we're thinking about training tomorrow," he said.
"My first dream as a footballer was to play for River Plate, and I was able to achieve it. I was born there, at River Plate, in my opinion the greatest team in the Americas. Many players have gone from River Plate to Real Madrid. I didn't have the privilege of seeing Di Stéfano, but my grandparents did tell me what he meant to the world of football and to Real Madrid. It's a huge joy to be able to move from River Plate to the greatest club in the world, which is Real Madrid," he expressed.
Mastantuono admitted that Xabi Alonso's call was "very important" because it showed him "that confidence." "It did have a big influence because it gave me a lot of confidence, and in addition to my dream as a player, which was to be at Real Madrid, the fact that he called me the way he did also meant a lot," he said.
Especially after the interest from other clubs, such as Paris Saint-Germain. "I have all the respect for those teams. It's also very nice for me that so many are interested. I was fortunate to be able to speak with Luis Enrique. He was very clear with me. I truly appreciate him very much. I congratulate him on last night's win. He's a great coach, and I have all the respect and gratitude for him," he revealed.
"I'm an offensive player, left-footed, almost always on the right, but I can assure you that I'm going to give everything I have for nothing, to lead the team and for Real Madrid fans to feel identified with it," insisted the young footballer, who sees himself "prepared" for this new stage to not be "hard," since in Europe "the difficult thing, obviously, is that the pace is higher."
Therefore, he doesn't rule out redesigning his position to play more. "I'm going to be there in whatever way I can help the team, in whatever position the coach decides. I'm here to help in whatever way I can. I'm more used to playing on the right, but my intention is to help, and whatever the coach decides will be good for the team to be at its best," he said.
Finally, Mastantuono defended Leo Messi as "the best player in the world." "He meant a lot to Barcelona and to the Argentinians who saw him play. I believe Real Madrid is the greatest club in the world, and I believe that's always been the case. The truth is, I'm here to make my own way. I want Real Madrid fans, above all, to be happy with what I can do on the pitch," he explained.
The Argentine acknowledged having "many" role models at Real Madrid, most recently Ángel Di María and Gonzalo Higuaín, and hoped to experience "historic moments" at the club. "My dream is to win many titles with this club and obviously with the Argentine national team, which also means a lot to me," he commented.
"I think about the present, I try to think about what's next. Obviously, my dream and my goal is to be in the World Cup, and I'm going to fight for that. But right now, I think I want to start training with the first team tomorrow, start getting my head around it, and then hopefully everything will fall into place so I can be in that World Cup," he concluded.
Earlier, during the official presentation, Mastantuono thanked Florentino Pérez and those present for the opportunity. "For me, a dream has come true as a footballer and as a person: to join a club like Real Madrid, the greatest in the world. I'm very happy; it will be a day that will go down in my history," the player began his speech during the presentation at the club's training complex.
The young player, who turns 18 this Thursday, spoke of his parents, his family, and his group of friends and colleagues. "They're indispensable to me, and I love them very much. I want them to be able to enjoy it like I am. The truth is, I'm proud that they're there and can enjoy it," he expressed.
"I still have a lot to learn, but I believe those values come from my inner circle, which is the best thing I have. I promise I'll give my life for this shirt, which is the dream I've always had. Today it becomes a reality. Today it begins," said the Argentine, who will wear the number 30, as he did at River Plate.
Mastantuono also spoke about Real Madrid's new manager, Xabi Alonso, thanking him for his "trust and welcome." "They made me feel very comfortable. They want them to know they're going to be with a fan on the pitch. I hope I can achieve very important things with this club. Hala Madrid!" the young player concluded.
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