After the euphoric highs experienced on Thursday, Sunday was a crash back to reality for Manchester United in the Premier League.
At Old Trafford on Sunday, new lows were reached for this continuously poor league campaign.
Manchester United were disappointingly defeated 1-0 by Wolves. This was the club’s 15th defeat in the Premier League this season, the most it has sustained since the competition formed in 1992.
The loss saw Tyler Fredricson and Harry Amass shine for United; however, in terms of going forward the problems within Ruben Amorim’s attack were as glaring as ever, with Rasmus Hojlund continuing to struggle.
For a change, the biggest issue was not creation but rather that attackers struggled to convert chances. This issue has seen reinforcements once again thrust to the forefront of fans’ minds.
Matheus Cunha is a player United are very keen on signing, with Ineos keen to secure a deal before the season ends. This would solve the left-sided number 10 position for United, and now the club are also considering a move for a player to revamp the right side.
Manchester United considering Franco Mastantuono swoop
Ineos could sign a handful of new attackers for Amorim this summer, with Rayan Cherki one player United are leading the race to sign who could slot right in as a right-sided number 10 option.
Now, Argentine wonderkid Franco Mastantuono has once again emerged as an option for United, according to a report from The Sun.
It is claimed that United are considering making a swoop to sign Mastantuono from River Plate, with the 17-year-old’s £38 million release clause being monitored.
Mastantuono is also attracting interest from Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan, which the report states could see United keen to move quickly. The player dubbed as being Argentina’s next world-class talent only turns 18 in August and so if United trigger the clause, he wouldn’t be eligible to join until then.
However, there is a chance Mastantuono could have a breakout summer in the Club World Cup, which means United should be trying to sign him before that to avoid potentially increased competition.
Mastantuono has been linked with United for over a year and is starting to show why he is tipped for the top, and his acquisition would be a strong addition to Amorim’s side.
Mastantuono would be a ‘special player’ for Ruben Amorim
Mastantuono holds the record at River Plate as being their youngest ever goalscorer when he scored against Excursionistas in the Argentinian Cup back in February 2024. Since then, he has grabbed five more, with the best of the bunch coming last week against Gimnasia, scoring a brilliant solo goal.
The teenager is a technically gifted talent, with River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo speaking about the midfielder with huge praise, as quoted by FIFA.
“Mastantuono continues to show flashes of being a special player. We need to understand the growth process; the young players have to develop with the team. We’ll keep backing them without getting carried away or heaping too much pressure on them.”
While Argentina’s youth coach Diego Placente was also full of praise for Mastantuono, who has similarities with Amorim’s favourite, Francisco Trincao.
“Mastantuono is a very good player, and he’s come on by leaps and bounds. I think he’s proven that he’s more than capable of starting and has all the attributes to do so. He’s got a lot of personality, and mentally, he’s mature beyond his years.”
If United manage to sign Mastantuono, it would be a brilliant addition for Amorim, and the kind of player who could become a star under the 40-year-old.
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