Real Madrid confirm the midfielder faces an indefinite spell on the sidelines.
Real Madrid have released an official medical report confirming that Franco Mastantuono has been diagnosed with a sports hernia (pubalgia). The diagnosis followed examinations carried out earlier today by the club’s medical services. At this stage, the club has not provided a return date, noting that his availability is pending evolution and will depend on how he responds to treatment in the coming days and weeks.
“After the examinations carried out today on our player Franco Mastantuono by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a sports hernia (pubalgia). Pending evolution.”
Pubalgia—often referred to as a sports hernia—is a complex groin condition commonly seen in athletes who make frequent changes of direction, accelerate aggressively, or strike the ball repeatedly. It is not a classic hernia; rather, it involves soft tissue strain or imbalance around the lower abdominal wall and adductor region.
Symptoms can fluctuate, and players may feel fine in light sessions before discomfort returns with higher-intensity work. Because of this variability, the most responsible approach is to avoid setting a premature timeline and to focus on a phased recovery plan.
What Franco Mastantuono Recovery Could Look Like
In cases like this, the medical staff typically prioritise pain management and functional stability before any consideration of a full return to training. That process usually includes a combination of rest, targeted physiotherapy, core and adductor strengthening, and progressive on-grass work. The aim is straightforward: ensure that the player can complete football-specific movements—sprinting, cutting, and striking—without discomfort. If symptoms persist despite conservative care, clinicians sometimes consider additional interventions, but that decision depends entirely on clinical response and specialist guidance. For now, Mastantuono will follow an individualised plan under close supervision, with adjustments made as his tolerance improves.
Squad Impact and Short-Term Options
This setback arrives at an unfortunate moment for Mastantuono, who had been pushing to consolidate a larger role in the first-team rotation. His absence will naturally shift minutes elsewhere in midfield. Eduardo Camavinga is a logical option to absorb more responsibility in central areas, given his range and ball-winning ability. The staff can also tweak the attacking structure depending on match demands, including how they deploy Arda Güler when the team looks to add creativity from the right side. The precise blend will vary by opponent, but the squad has enough versatility to cover the gap while the player recovers.
Managing Expectations
Because pubalgia can be recurrent if rushed, the priority is to achieve a complete, pain-free return rather than a quick one. The club’s “pending evolution” language reflects that stance. It protects the player’s long-term health and recognises that each case progresses at its own pace. Supporters should expect periodic updates rather than day-to-day bulletins. Once Mastantuono clears the key thresholds—tolerating full training loads, executing high-intensity football actions, and recovering well between sessions—the conversation can turn to match readiness.
Real Madrid will continue to monitor Franco Mastantuono closely and adjust his program as needed. While the timeline remains open-ended, the medical and performance teams are aligned on a cautious, comprehensive approach designed to resolve symptoms and reduce the risk of recurrence. When he returns, the expectation is that he does so with full confidence and without pain. Until then, the squad has the depth and flexibility to navigate his absence, and the club will communicate further developments as they arise.