Real Madrid youngsters Franco Mastantuono and Arda Güler are firmly under the microscope, on the back of performances that fall well below the standard demanded by Los Blancos. Each player’s situation comes with his own caveats - lack of continuity, nagging fitness issues - but, at the same time, there is less and less room for excuses.
They were signed as long‑term pillars of the team, major investments: Mastantuono cost $70 million and Güler $23 million. Two transfers that sparked excitement and promised a bright future. But the hours, days, and weeks roll by… and nothing. Just empty returns. They’re not at the level. And worse: they’re trending downward. Both emerged from Wednesday’s shock defeat to Albacete looking even more bruised.
What’s wrong with Güler?
Güler’s situation triggers at least a yellow alert. The sense around the team is that the role is too big for him right now. That he’s nowhere near the performance needed to become the new Luka Modrić, to be the brain of the entire operation. Against Albacete, he was the least accurate midfielder on the ball (87%), trailing Jorge Cestero (89%) and Fede Valverde (94%). And the numbers drop even further in the attacking phase. In final‑third passing, he fell off a cliff: 82% (compared to Cestero’s 100% and Valverde’s 90%).
It’s another reminder that while Güler is a player with exquisite touch, the role may simply be too big for him - at least today. There’s still the open question of how he might fare as a pure No. 10 or drifting off the right. Because there are faint signs of life: he created more chances than anyone else on the team (five). But he steps into the eye of the storm… and his performance dips. Last night, even though he was supposed to be the team’s metronome, he finished with just 65 passes - a very low total. Behind Raúl Asencio (76) and Valverde (80). Far below expectations.
But the real concern lies with Mastantuono. He hasn’t been at the required level for a long time - and he knows it better than anyone. He’s lost the boldness that defined his early matches, the confidence to take on defenders even when the play didn’t always come off. That personality. That fearlessness. And at the same time, he’s lost his edge. Two telling stats: he took just one shot besides his goal (the only one on target) and completed half as many dribbles as David Jiménez (two).
Mastantuono MIA
Mastantuono was brought in to be a starter. He arrived with that label, with that trust. But that belief is evaporating. Yesterday marked exactly one month since he returned from a groin injury. He’s had time to regain fitness and rhythm. But the spark still isn’t there. He’s played only 172 minutes across the last 15 matches. He’s vanished from the rotation. And when he does get an opportunity, the feeling left behind is frustration. These were big‑money signings: Two players meant for the present and the future. But instead of taking off, they both seem stuck in place. Something’s wrong; both are struggling. And the murmurings of discontent grow louder: two projects drifting into danger.