Lewandowski On Mastantuono: Real Madrid Is Under Pressure To Find Players Like Yamal

Lamine Yamal is compared to Real Madrid's young player, Franco Mastantuono (Instagram/@fcbarcelona).

JAKARTA - Real Madrid has just inaugurated the arrival of an 18-year-old Argentine young star, Franco Mastantuono, on Thursday, August 14, 2025, local time.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez called Mastantuono one of the greatest talents to emerge in the world of football in recent years.

Los Blancos also dared to spend a large amount of 63 million euros (around Rp1.1 trillion) from the River Plate.

The appearance of Mastantuono in Bernabeu immediately made the public compare it with the talents of Real Madrid rivals, Barcelona, namely Lamine Yamal.

The competition between the two young players is highly anticipated, who will get more spotlights.

However, Yamal had already received the light because of its important contribution to the Blaugrana and the Spanish National Team.

Therefore, senior players like Robert Lewandowski are very confident that Mastantuono is not worthy compared to Yamal.

Real Madrid's purchase of Mastantuono, according to Lewandowski, was a panic signing because the Barcelona rival was under pressure to find a young player like Yamal.

"You can't compare players, especially at a young age. To be sure, they (Real Madrid) have the pressure to find someone like Lamine."

"I think (being a Lamine) is impossible and it's better for you to follow your own path. Of course, for supporters, the hope is always that we have to find someone like Lamine."

"However, you can't find it because someone like this can't be born in every city every year."

"It feels like once in 10 years. Just like in the past, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, they are completely different players."

"You can't find the next Messi or you can't find the next Cristiano Ronaldo because they are unique," said Lewandowski.

Mastantuono is indeed a concern. After inhabiting the River Plate youth team, he has been on the first team since the 2023/2024 season.

Since then, he has often been the main choice of the River Plate. The move also made him called up to the senior Argentine National Team.

His debut in the Tango Team took place on June 5, 2025 in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Chile. He appeared as a substitute in Argentina's 1-0 win.

At the 2025 Club World Cup, Mastantuono appeared in all River Plate (three matches), two of whom played full.

Meanwhile, Lewandowski's statement that he could not compare Mastantuono and Yamal was not without reason.

After all, Yamal at the same age as Mastantuono, has entered the 2025 Ballon d'Or candidate.