Real Madrid Star Suffers Same Injury Uncertainty as Lamine Yamal

Real Madrid announced on Monday morning that teenage attacker Franco Mastantuono has been diagnosed with a hernia that will leave him sidelined for an undefined period of time.

Only arriving at the Santiago Bernabéu in August after he turned 18, having played at the summer’s Club World Cup with former team River Plate, Mastantuono has quickly established himself as Xabi Alonso’s preferred starter on the right wing.

The young Argentine doesn’t often complete full matches, typically replaced at some point during the second half, but has been named in the lineup seven times out of 11 in La Liga alone, keeping the more senior Rodrygo locked in a backup role up to now.

But Mastantuono, who had earlier withdrawn from October international duty with his country, is now set for a period of time out of action. Real Madrid’s statement did not offer any estimate on his likely absence timeframe, other than medical staff will monitor his progress.

Franco Mastantuono has suffered an injury. | Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Athletes can usually recover faster from hernias than most normal people, but it will still require Mastantuono to rest and resume activities with caution.

This is the same issue which has plagued Barcelona’s 18-year-old gem Lamine Yamal in recent weeks, forcing the Spain international to miss five games in a six-match spell for Barcelona between September and October. There are concerns that Yamal may even be forced to undergo surgery on an issue which is still bothering him.

Real Madrid, for what it’s worth, are conveying a sense of “optimism” about Mastantuono’s injury, per AS. Ensuring that the condition, also known as pubalgia, is treated properly now is important, to avoid it becoming a persistent long-term problem.

Mastantuono Out vs. Liverpool, Door Opens for Rodrygo

Mastantuono is guaranteed to miss this week’s Champions League meeting with Liverpool at Anfield, which is a blow for him to be ruled out of such a blockbuster match at this early stage of his career.

Alonso will be without one of the players he has regularly counted on so far this season, but it does present Rodrygo will a chance to reclaim the place he has lost.

Prior to Carlo Ancelotti changing formation to accommodate the arrival of Jude Bellingham in 2023, and then increased competition from Kylian Mbappé signing in 2024, Rodrygo was playing the best football of his career as Real Madrid’s starting right winger. Even with Alonso using a 4-3-3, the Brazilian hasn’t been able to consistently play in his best position because of Mastantuono.

Although competition for the place is there from Brahim Díaz, it is potentially an opportunity for Rodrygo to get some matches under his belt and effectively prove himself all over again.