Franco Mastantuono Faces Possible Cut from Argentina's World Cup Squad

Franco Mastantuono, the 18-year-old forward from Real Madrid, is currently uncertain about his inclusion in Argentina's final World Cup squad as the selection deadline approaches this Sunday. Although the young attacker arrived at the national camp in excellent physical shape, his spot on the team remains under threat because of tactical decisions by manager Lionel Scaloni.

According to a report by AS, Mastantuono joined the Argentine national team at the Lionel Messi training complex in Buenos Aires following a challenging debut season at Real Madrid, where he made 23 appearances. Despite his fitness being optimal, there is no guarantee he will travel with the squad to the tournament. Should he be left out, the decision will be based solely on Scaloni’s tactical plans rather than any injury concerns.

Scaloni and his technical staff continue to assess all players in the preliminary squad as the deadline for final roster submission nears. The manager commented on the selection process, stating, "We still have some doubts that we’ll resolve in the coming days." He emphasized that the final decision will depend on "the players' performance, that they arrive in top form," indicating that Mastantuono's potential omission is a tactical choice.

Within the Argentine Football Association, there is a division of opinion regarding how quickly Mastantuono should be integrated into the senior international setup. He remains listed among alternatives such as Emi Buendia, Matias Soule, and Agustin Giay, awaiting any changes due to injuries among current squad members.

The fitness of injured players Nahuel Molina, Nico Gonzalez, and Gonzalo Montiel will influence Mastantuono’s chances. If any of these players fail their fitness evaluations, openings could arise in the squad before Scaloni finalizes the roster. Argentina, as reigning World Cup champions, require clarity on their squad’s fitness ahead of their Group J matches against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.