Real Madrid's newest signing, Franco Mastantuono, has publicly declared Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi as the best player in the world during his official unveiling at the Spanish club.
The 17-year-old Argentine talent, who recently completed his transfer from River Plate, made the statement on Thursday when asked about his opinion on the world's greatest footballer.
"I am Argentine and for me the best player in the world is Lionel Messi, I don't have much more to say," Mastantuono stated during the press conference.
Mastantuono's move to Real Madrid comes after an impressive stint at River Plate, where he made 61 appearances and scored 10 goals. His talent has already earned him recognition at the international level, as he recently became the youngest player to debut for Argentina in an official match.
The teenager's admiration for his compatriot Messi is particularly noteworthy given that he has joined Real Madrid, the longtime rival of Messi's former club Barcelona, where the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner spent the majority of his illustrious career.
Mastantuono's signing represents Real Madrid's continued strategy of acquiring young talents with high potential, following their successful recruitment of Brazilian stars Endrick and Vinícius Júnior at similar ages.
Football analysts suggest that while the youngster will likely need time to adapt to European football, his technical abilities and vision on the pitch have drawn comparisons to some of Argentina's finest midfield talents.
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