Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have been billed as leading the competitive race to snap up River Plate starlet Franco Mastantuono, a report has claimed.

The 17-year-old, left-footed playmaker has already inspired a gaggle of goggling suitors during his prodigious rise into the first team. Manchester United and Chelsea soon emerged as interested onlookers, with the Old Trafford outfit even reportedly holding multiple meetings with River about signing their latest gem.

Mastantuono’s heart appeared to be set on Real Madrid, although the Spanish giants have been put off by the public comments of his representatives and a €40m (£34m) release clause in his contract.

Money is no object for the nouveau riche duo of Manchester City and PSG, who are thought to be the two sides most likely to sign Mastantuono, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Inter and AC Milan are also named in the report as keen onlookers having tracked River’s youngest-ever goalscorer for several years. Yet, neither Serie A side is expected to make a move to sign Mastantuono this summer and it remains to be seen if even City and PSG are bold enough to splash €40m on a player who doesn’t turn 18 until August.

River are adamant that their attacking midfielder isn’t going anywhere. Club board member Stefano Di Carlo recently stressed that Mastantuono would remain in Buenos Aires for the rest of 2025. “Yes, yes,” he nodded, “that’s a certainty already.”

The fierce chase for a teen who is yet to make his senior debut is fuelled by the rave reviews he has received. Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez lavished praise upon his compatriot while Matias Almeyda fell into the all too familiar trap of unwanted comparisons.

The former River Plater player who hails from the same Argentine town as Mastantuono recently gave his compatriot a lofty billing. “After Diego Maradona, there didn’t seem to be any heirs, but Leo Messi arrived,” Almeyda proclaimed. “And I say that now is the time for Franco Mastantuono.”