According to journalist Matteo Moretto, Fulham have no interest in securing a temporary deal for Real Madrid’s teenage wonderkid Franco Mastantuono, completely dismissing recent media speculation linking the player to Craven Cottage.

Despite intense rumours circulating regarding a potential Premier League loan move, the Premier League club do not see the 18-year-old Argentine prodigy as not an active target for the club.

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Dismissing the Arbeloa connection

The transfer links initially gained momentum in the wake of Alvaro Arbeloa’s appointment as the new head coach at Craven Cottage.

Because Arbeloa had previously worked within the youth and coaching structures at the Santiago Bernabeu, reports suggested he was actively raiding his former club for attacking reinforcements.

Speculation mounted that Fulham were working on a season-long loan with a built-in option to buy the highly-rated versatile attacking midfielder, while also being in talks with Real Madrid for Gonzalo Garcia.

Fulham not interested in Mastantuono. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

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However, if Moretto is to be believed, these claims are entirely unfounded and they have no interest in signing Mastantuono this summer.

Real Madrid’s internal dilemma

While Fulham remain entirely detached from the situation, Mastantuono’s immediate future at Real Madrid does remain highly fluid.

Following his high-profile transfer from River Plate last year, the young attacker experienced a heavily disrupted debut campaign in Spain, accumulating just 1,484 minutes of first-team action across 35 appearances.

With the summer arrivals of Bernardo Silva and Endrick’s return from loan, competition for places in the final third has become exceptionally fierce at the Bernabeu.

Where will Mastantuono play next season? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

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As such, Real Madrid are open to a loan to aid his development, although they will strictly refuse any deal containing a permanent purchase option, as the board still maintains absolute faith in his long-term potential.

It had been suggested that newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho intended to thoroughly evaluate the player during their upcoming pre-season training camp before sanctioning any temporary exit.

However, of late, speculations of a loan departure are becoming concrete, with there being no shortage of suitors for the 18-year-old attacker. It remains to be seen where Mastantuono plays next season, but a move to Fulham seems to be off.