Tuttomercato reports that Benfica is one of the clubs following Franco Mastantuono, who is not part of the squad for the friendly match against Fiorentina for reasons related to the transfer market. Real Madrid is in the final stages of arranging his loan transfer. The primary point of contention is the structure of the deal, as Real Madrid desires a simple loan while the interested clubs favor a different arrangement. It is described that Franco Mastantuono is increasingly likely to transfer to a different club.

Mundo Deportivo reports that Benfica, coached by Marco Silva, is interested in signing Mastantuono to strengthen their attack, and adds that all parties see a loan as the most suitable solution for Mastantuono after a debut season at the Santiago Bernabéu marked by adaptation problems to European football. Real Madrid and Mastantuono both view the loan as an opportunity for his progression.

Real Madrid intends to loan out Franco Mastantuono and does not want to include a purchase option to retain control of the player. Benfica was monitoring Mastantuono and is among the interested clubs.

Real Madrid are prepared to loan out 18-year-old Argentine-Italian playmaker Franco Mastantuono this summer so he can get regular playing time and continue his development. He is reportedly not in Jose Mourinho’s plans for the next season. According to the Spanish publication SPORT, Benfica will compete with Tottenham Hotspur, Villarreal, Porto, Sporting CP, Inter Milan, Juventus, River Plate, and Rennes to sign him. Mastantuono joined Real Madrid in August 2025, is under contract until 2031, and has four caps for Argentina. In the 2025/2026 LaLiga season, he made 23 appearances and scored one goal. Transfermarkt lists his current market value at €45.00m, and his initial transfer from River Plate cost a reported €60 million to €63.2 million.