Real Madrid are close to completing the signing of River Plate star Franco Mastantuono, sources have told ESPN, with the playmaker expected to arrive in August, after playing for River at the Club World Cup.

Real Madrid have agreed to sign River Plate's young forward Franco Mastantuono for an initial fee of about $45 million, a spokesman for the Argentine club told Reuters on Thursday.

River Plate begins preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup with a new addition to its squad: Lautaro Rivero, a 21-year-old central defender, returns from his loan at Central Córdoba de Santiago del Estero to join Marcelo Gallardo's team.