The young midfielder, who was a regular starter under coach Alvaro Arbeloa earlier in the season, has seen his playing time dramatically reduced. Mastantuono featured heavily in the first six games under the new manager, starting five times and playing more than 70 minutes per match, but has only accumulated 13 minutes in the last four games.
The timing is concerning for Argentina, as the Finalissima against Spain on March 27 and the World Cup in June are fast approaching. With rhythm and visibility crucial for players hoping to be part of Argentina's plans, there's growing anxiety that Mastantuono may have slipped down the internal hierarchy at Real Madrid at the worst possible moment.