Mourinho believes he can unleash 18-year-old Real Madrid prodigy after difficult first season

Mourinho believes he can unleash 18-year-old Real Madrid prodigy after difficult first season Jose Mourinho has a lot of questions to answer regarding who he wants to keep in the Real Madrid squad and who he would be willing to sacrifice. Los Blancos are dealing with an overcrowded first-team squad, making exits non-negotiable, but it does look like teenager Franco Mastantuono has a good chance of staying . According to Mario Cortegana , Mourinho likes Mastantuono and would not mind him staying in the squad this season. The Real Madrid coach also believes he can make the teenager explode. That is an important shift because Mastantuono had been mentioned as one of the players who could leave on loan. If Mourinho sees something special in him, Real Madrid may decide that keeping him close is better than sending him away. Mastantuono had a difficult debut season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) A talent Mourinho wants to shape Mastantuono is still young, so the debate is about development. A loan would offer minutes, but staying at Madrid would give him daily work under Mourinho and direct exposure to elite teammates. That can be powerful for the right player. Mourinho has never been afraid of strong personalities or intense environments, and if he believes Mastantuono can handle it, that says something about the club’s faith in him. The key word is “explode.” Madrid do not just see him as a squad filler. They see a player with a high ceiling, someone who could make a jump if managed properly. For Mourinho, that kind of left-footed attacking talent can be useful across a long season, especially if he can learn to contribute to the Portuguese manager’s demands. Real Madrid must choose the right path What does the future hold for Mastantuono? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) Still, Real Madrid need to be careful. Keeping Mastantuono only makes sense if there is a real plan for him. The squad is crowded, and young players need more than admiration. They need minutes, responsibility and a clear role, even if that role starts small. If Mourinho believes he can accelerate the South American wonderkid’s growth, it would make sense to keep him around. Mastantuono represents the kind of high-upside bet the club like: young, gifted and capable of becoming much more than his current level. Last season may not have done justice to the potential that he possesses, and it remains to be seen what Los Blancos decide with the player’s future.