‎Franco Mastantuono Addresses Lamine Yamal Rivalry and Reveals Pubalgia Struggles Affecting Both El Clasico Teenagers

‎Real Madrid teenager Franco Mastantuono has offered a detailed update on his fitness challenges and the growing comparisons with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. The Argentine reflected on his early months in Spain, the pubalgia injury affecting his progress, and the rising rivalry between two of football’s most talked-about young talents.

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‎Franco Mastantuono discusses his pubalgia injury, his Real Madrid adaptation, and his growing rivalry with Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.

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‎Mastantuono joined Real Madrid in the summer through a €45 million transfer from River Plate, arriving as one of South America’s brightest prospects. The 18-year-old made his debut against Osasuna on the opening weekend and settled quickly into Xabi Alonso’s structure. His ability to find spaces and link play earned him consistent minutes during the absences of Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, contributing one goal and one assist across 12 appearances.

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‎Real Madrid later confirmed that Mastantuono was dealing with symptoms of pubalgia, a groin and lower abdominal issue known for its unpredictable recovery timeline. The condition affects movement, acceleration, and the abdominal-adductor connection, making it especially challenging for wingers and creative attackers.

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‎Mastantuono explained the injury’s development during an interview with Cadena SER. He said the discomfort built up gradually until he had to step back from regular action. “I’m working hard to recover and be back on the pitch, which is the best part. I’m feeling much better now,” he shared. “It was a pain I’d been dealing with for a while. It was time to slow down and recover properly so I could be at 100%. This club demands it. I’ll be back playing soon.”

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‎The teenager added that the pain actually began before his move to Spain. “It started in the second game of the Club World Cup with River and it bothered me more and more until I had to stop because of the pain,” he said.

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‎A growing spotlight has also followed Mastantuono due to constant comparisons with Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, who is dealing with the same pubalgia issue this season. The Real Madrid winger acknowledged the attention their rivalry is generating across La Liga and El Clasico. “I don’t like comparisons, but it’s always nice to have rivals of Lamine’s caliber, from Barcelona, from Spain. It motivates you to be even better,” he said. “I hope it can stay this way for a long time, until the end of my career.”

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‎When asked directly who is performing at a higher level at the moment, Mastantuono responded with clarity. “Today, Lamine. He’s showing an incredible level, but I’ve just arrived at Real Madrid, I’m in an adaptation process that I hope will be quick so I can get up to speed in Europe and at Real Madrid.”

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‎Pubalgia has become increasingly common among young attacking players who rely on sharp directional changes and explosive sprints. Yamal has missed matches with Barcelona due to the issue, and other players such as Nico Williams and Cole Palmer have recently faced similar conditions. Recovery must be handled with patience, as returning too early frequently leads to recurring pain.

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‎Mastantuono has shown steady progress in his rehabilitation program, and Real Madrid continue to monitor his recovery without placing a fixed return date. Reports indicate optimism that he may be available again toward the end of December as Madrid prepare for a demanding run of fixtures in January.