Fiorentina Presents Franco Mastantuono: 'You Will Have a Player Who Will Fight'

Argentine talent Franco Mastantuono has officially embarked on his European journey, joining Italian club Fiorentina on loan from Real Madrid. The move, orchestrated by new coach José Mourinho, is designed to give the promising attacking midfielder valuable European experience before potentially returning to the Spanish giants.

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I chose to play for Fiorentina because of its history. I am very happy and excited to join such an important club.

Mastantuono will remain in Florence until June 2027, with his immediate focus on Serie A and Coppa Italia matches, as Fiorentina aims to climb the league standings after a season focused on avoiding relegation. The young player's personal goal is to grow as a footballer, while collectively contributing to the resurgence of the historic club, which has also brought in a new coach, former World Cup winner Fabio Grosso, and eight other new signings.

Following a warm reception from fans at the airport, Mastantuono was formally presented by the club. He shared his enthusiasm for joining Fiorentina, emphasizing the club's rich history as a key factor in his decision. "I chose to play for Fiorentina because of its history. I am very happy and excited to join such an important club," he stated, just weeks before his 19th birthday.

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It's a very special day for me, I was really looking forward to joining the club, I was very excited.

While primarily an attacking midfielder, Mastantuono acknowledged a desire to enhance his defensive capabilities, recognizing the emphasis Italian football places on this aspect. He believes the rigorous training in Italy will be highly beneficial for his overall development. He has already played a friendly match with Mourinho's Real Madrid squad earlier in the summer, but the decision was made for him to gain experience elsewhere.

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I would like to improve in the defensive phase. It's an aspect that is worked on a lot in Italian football, which will be of great help to me.

Mastantuono also drew inspiration from fellow Argentines who have played for Fiorentina, such as Germán Pezzella, Lucas Beltrán, and Lucas Martínez Quarta, who all spoke highly of the club and recommended the move. He looks forward to contributing to the team's success and continuing his development in one of Europe's top leagues.

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I spoke with some of them and they spoke very highly of Fiorentina, they recommended coming here a lot. That also helped me.