Seattle, June 25 -- Teenage River Plate forward Franco Mastantuono has said that new Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso had played a major role in his decision to sign with the Spanish club.
Mastantuono is set to arrive at the Bernabeu in August after Madrid triggered his buyout clause of 63 million euros (around 72 million US dollars).
The 17-year-old revealed that a phone call with Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid's manager last month, had immediately convinced him it was the right move.
"The way Xabi handled things with me was incredible. I'm really grateful," Mastantuono said in an interview with DAZN on Yesterday.
"That conversation had a big impact on me. When a coach genuinely wants you, that's a huge show of ...