Fiorentina coach PaoloVanoli made it clear in his press conference that the young Argentine striker FrancoMastantuono must improve his performance after the 2‑1 defeat against Genoa. The 19-year-old, who arrived in SerieA on loan from RealMadrid, was the protagonist of Fiorentina's only victory of the season, scoring a hat-trick in the 4-2 victory over Venezia. However, the recent fall in the table and criticism from the fans forced the coach to intercede.
Vanoli recalled that the objective of the loan is for the player to get minutes and learn from his mistakes. “Mastantuono has to understand Italian football and, if he doesn't play, he doesn't understand it,” said the coach. "You grow with experience. Franco is an important player and shouldn't complain; that's how you become the best." The coach added that the striker needs to “know how to manage his status”, underlining the importance of discipline and adaptation to Fiorentina's playing style.
According to SofaScore data, the youngster showed a mixed performance in the match against Genoa. He made 27 of 31 successful passes, but his ball control and dribbling were poor. Despite this, he is still the player who generates the most scoring chances per game on the team, which demonstrates his offensive potential. Criticism from fans focused on his lack of consistency and the number of lost balls, a figure that reached 18 during the match.
The coach concluded that Mastantuono's improvement is essential if he wants to establish himself as a starter. “If he doesn't play, he doesn't understand it,” Vanoli reiterated, emphasizing that experience on the field is key to his development. With the season still underway, the striker will have to take advantage of upcoming opportunities to show that he can live up to the expectations of Fiorentina and their fans.