Franco Mastantuono may be the key to Xabi Alonso's Liverpool puzzle with Real Madrid exit possible - opinion
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After another miserable weekend, the only thing giving Liverpool supporters some comfort right now is the potential of a change in manager.Many fans would love to see Xabi Alonso replace Arne Slot, and are fully expecting that their club will do the right thing and appoint the Spaniard.If they do, it should be expected that Alonso will keep Liverpool’s plans of playing 4-2-2-2 next season, and while that system could get the best out of Florian Wirtz, it could also see an ambitious move for Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono come to fruition. Surely we've got no chance against them 😣 Photo Credit: Getty Images/Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images Mastantuono could leave Real MadridAfter shining in Argentina with River Plate, there were claims last summer that Liverpool were interested in signing Mastantuono.Eventually they lost out to the pull of Madrid, though, with Sport claiming this weekend that Alonso was heavily involved in his addition.The Liverpool-linked coach is said to have ‘blindly bet’ on the 18-year-old, who has seen his playing time diminish since Alonso was sacked.Having become a bit-part player under Alvaro Arbeloa, it’s claimed that Mastantuono is likely to be loaned out this summer.Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Steve Nicol says he’s why he’s changed his mind about Xabi Alonso taking charge at LiverpoolLiverpool should try for MastantuonoThough a loan move from Madrid would clearly not be beneficial to Liverpool, they should be on alert to the potential a permanent offer for Mastantuono could hold.
Sport claim that Los Blancos currently have some liquidity issues and need to raise some funds by selling players this summer.If Liverpool come to the table with a good offer for Mastantuono, his current position as a non-starter might make Madrid consider it.Should Alonso have been installed at Anfield by then, the youngster could perhaps see the appeal of linking up with his former coach and kickstarting his career in Europe.Wirtz and Mastantuono could be Liverpool’s roving No. 10sWith Liverpool reportedly hoping to deploy a 4-2-2-2 system next year, Mastantuono’s addition would make a great deal of sense.“I think he can play in the front line, and as an ‘enganche’ [playmaker] as well,” Alonso said of Mastantuono last August.
Who you picking to be Liverpool’s next manager? Mastantuono would tick those boxes, and, when coupled with his availability and his history with Alonso, he could be the perfect arrival.