One of South America's most talented teenage stars has put Manchester United on notice after expressing his interest in joining a top European rival instead of Ruben Amorim's set-up ahead of next season.
The Man United head coach is expected to make wholesale changes to his squad in the summer transfer window after a woeful season that sees the club currently perched 14th in the Premier League standings.
Although the Red Devils could yet play in the Champions League next season due to their continuing participation in the Europa League, a two-legged semi-final against Athletic Bilbao currently stands in the way of Man United and a spot in the final at the end of the month.
Mail Sport reported in March that Amorim is looking to offload as many as 10 players during the upcoming transfer window, with loanees Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Jadon Sancho among those most likely to be departing Old Trafford.
But as Amorim prepares for outgoings, so the Portuguese manager does for incomings, and the club are believed to be interested in securing River Plate midfielder Franco Mastantuono as a priority.
Those ambitions may have hit an obstacle, however, with the 17-year-old confirming that his dream move would be to Real Madrid.
As per TyC Sports, Mastantuono is thought to have told Man United officials through his representatives that he is not yet to make a decision about his future, as he is waiting to hear from Los Blancos.
The midfielder is believed to be interested in following in the footsteps of fellow South American stars Endrick, Rodrygo, and Vinicius Junior with a move to Spanish capital, pouring cold water on Man United's transfer plans.
Other rivals to United for the teenager's signature are thought to include Chelsea, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Inter Milan, with top-flight clubs keen to secure his talents by paying his £38million release clause.
Mastantuono became the club's youngest goalscorer at just 16 years, five months, and 25 days in February 2024, and has already featured in Argentina's under-17 and under-21 set-ups.
Mastantuono is just the latest top talent to emerge from River's famed academy after Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and Atletico's Julian Alvarez, who were among six graduates from the club's youth system in Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad.
In more promising news for the Manchester club, key transfer target Mathes Cunha is thought to be close to negotiating a move from Premier League rivals Wolves.
Talks between the two parties are believed to have entered the final stages after 'significant' progress, with United looking to make him the statement signing of their summer in a £62.5m deal.
Cunha's strong form in front of goal has proved transformative for Vitor Pereira's side in the latter half of the season - a fact that Man United are likely to be highly envious of.
United have scored just 39 goals in their 34 Premier League games this season, with Amorim eyeing a host of attacking talents for recruitment when the window opens.
But the head coach waved away suggestions that he would be reuniting with Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres.
The Sweden international has a comparatively low release clause - £60m - for his blistering goalscoring form, but is thought to be interested in moving only if he is able to play Champions League football.
'I didn't talk to him,' Amorim admitted on Wednesday evening. 'But if a player only wants to come to Man United to play Champions League, then he won't come.
'We want players who want to represent United, not players who want to play certain competitions.'