Argentina fear Real Madrid are freezing out their emerging talent ahead of World Cup<\/p>\n
What started as a promising chapter for Franco Mastantuono at Real Madrid is now turning into a period of uncertainty<\/a>, and in Argentina, everyone is beginning to worry, reports Mundo Deportivo<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is because the young midfielder\u2019s role has changed sharply under Alvaro Arbeloa.\u00a0<\/p>\n Not long ago, he looked like one of the coach\u2019s trusted options. Today, however, he is barely seeing the pitch.\u00a0<\/p>\n The concern is not just about club minutes; it is about timing. The Finalissima against Spain on March 27 and the World Cup in June are fast approaching.\u00a0<\/p>\n For a player hoping to be part of Argentina\u2019s plans, rhythm and visibility are everything.<\/p>\n The drop has been sudden. Mastantuono featured heavily in Arbeloa\u2019s first matches in charge.\u00a0<\/p>\n In fact, during the first six games under the new manager, he started five times.\u00a0<\/p>\n He even managed to score and consistently played more than 70 minutes per match. At that stage, it seemed he had found stability inside a competitive Real Madrid midfield.<\/p>\n Then something shifted.<\/p>\n Franco Mastantuono has fallen out of favour. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Since the Rayo Vallecano game, his presence has faded.\u00a0<\/p>\n Notably, he came on in the 82nd minute against Valencia and did not play against Real Sociedad, Benfica in the Champions League, or Osasuna on the last matchday.<\/p>\n That\u2019s just 13 minutes in four games. For a player who was recently starting regularly, that statistic alone explains the anxiety building back home.<\/p>\n In Argentina, this is being viewed as more than a simple rotation. There is a feeling that Mastantuono has slipped down the internal hierarchy at the worst possible moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n Understandably, Real Madrid\u2019s packed schedule would normally open doors for squad players. Instead, his path has narrowed.<\/p>\n As reported by the outlet, River Plate icon Norberto Alonso offered a brutally honest assessment of the situation. He said,\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re killing him. Do you know why? I think that kid is going to end up in a lower-level team.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThen, maybe he\u2019ll come back to Real, but first he has to prove that he\u2019s ready for Real.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Those words may sound harsh, but they show a deeper fear. At Real Madrid, patience is limited. Young talents either adapt quickly or risk being loaned out to rebuild confidence and continuity.<\/p>\nA sudden change<\/h2>\n