Franco Mastantuono has explained his decision to join Fiorentina on loan from Real Madrid, insisting the Viola project stood out above every other option he considered this summer.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, with quotes via FirenzeViola, the Argentine didn’t hold back on his excitement.
“I’m very happy to be at Fiorentina, who presented me with a really interesting project. The right choice for my career, and I’m glad I made it.”
Wearing the number 30 shirt, Mastantuono also gave some insight into how the move came together behind the scenes: “I had a very cordial conversation with Real and decided to leave Madrid, then I had lots of offers but Fiorentina’s project struck me more than any of them, and I made my decision a week before the announcement. I’d love to write my name into this club’s history.”
Mastantuono arrives at Fiorentina in much needed breath of fresh air
The move ends a difficult first year in Spain for the 18-year-old, who arrived from River Plate for a fee in the region of €45m last summer but managed just 1,484 minutes across 35 appearances, squeezed out by competition from the likes of Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler.
Real Madrid had been weighing up a return to River Plate before deciding they preferred to keep his development within Europe, with Benfica also credited with interest before Fiorentina won the race.
His omission from Argentina’s World Cup squad this summer only added to the sense that a fresh start was needed, and he’ll now be expected to provide the creative spark in Florence that eluded him at the Bernabeu.
