La Liga pundit: Real Madrid star is ‘better’ than Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal

Spanish journalist Alfredo Duro has claimed that Real Madrid's 18-year-old Argentine attacker Franco Mastantuono is a better player than Barcelona's highly-regarded teenage winger Lamine Yamal. This statement comes amid Mastantuono's recent impressive performances for Madrid.

Lamine Yamal, also 18, is widely considered one of Europe's top young talents. He has been a star for Barcelona since becoming their youngest-ever debutant and goalscorer, contributing 11 goals and 12 assists this season, finishing second in the 2023 Ballon d'Or, and playing a key role in Barcelona's La Liga title win.

Franco Mastantuono joined Real Madrid from River Plate for €30 million last summer. After a period of adaptation, the versatile attacker has recently shown strong form, scoring in a Champions League match against Monaco and impressing in a 2-0 La Liga win over Villarreal. In his debut season, he has recorded 3 goals and 1 assist in 21 appearances.

Duro's comparison is considered a significant claim given Yamal's early career achievements. The praise for Mastantuono reflects his perceived potential as a future superstar for Madrid, with his creativity and technical ability drawing attention. He has also been compared to Lionel Messi in Argentina, though he has humorously dismissed being called "the new Messi."

Real Madrid's strategy of focusing on youth signings appears validated by Mastantuono's progress. He is seen as a player who could be a cornerstone for the team in the long term and is already making an impact under coach Alvaro Arbeloa in the current La Liga campaign.

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