Manchester United continue to ramp up their recruitment drive under the leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and sporting director Jason Wilcox, with a strong focus on securing elite young talent ahead of the 2025/26 season.
With Matheus Cunha edging closer to a move to Old Trafford and several outgoings anticipated—including Antony and possibly Marcus Rashford—the club is laying the groundwork for a new era under Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese manager has already shown his commitment to youth development, handing opportunities to academy graduates such as Chido Obi and Harry Amass, while the club also recently secured the signature of Enzo Kana-Biyik.
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United are determined to get their transfer business done early this summer and are eyeing players who can develop into long-term stars—both at Carrington and beyond.
And now, the club have turned their attention to one of the brightest prospects in South America.
Manchester United are set to go head-to-head with Real Madrid for River Plate sensation Franco Mastantuono, according to reports in Argentina from Diario Ole.
The 16-year-old attacking midfielder, who turns 18 in August, has been attracting serious interest from across Europe after a breakthrough campaign at senior level.
Franco Mastantuono made headlines on Sunday when he became the youngest player in River Plate history to score in a Superclasico against Boca Juniors, opening the scoring with a stunning free kick in a 2-1 win at the Monumental.
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His current contract at River runs until December 2027, and he has a €45 million release clause. Despite the growing speculation, it’s understood Mastantuono has no preference for which club he joins next.
United are among 17 clubs monitoring his progress, including six Premier League sides—Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea among them—as well as long-time admirers Real Madrid, who have stepped up their scouting efforts.
While a summer move is not guaranteed, United are expected to hold discussions with his representatives in the coming weeks as they continue building for the future.
Beating Real Madrid and the rest of Europe to Mastantuono’s signature would be a major statement from Ineos and the new-look United project.
