Franco Mastantuono's Hat-Trick on Serie A Debut for Fiorentina
Franco Mastantuono needed just 90 minutes in purple to turn a quiet loan move into a headline.
On his Serie A debut for Fiorentina away to Venezia, the forward on loan from Real Madrid struck a stunning hat-trick in a 2-4 win, announcing himself with the kind of ruthlessness that usually belongs to seasoned stars, not new arrivals finding their feet.
The match had started badly for Fiorentina, Venezia drawing first blood and riding the early momentum. Then came the 29th minute, and with it, a shift that felt immediate and irreversible.
Mastantuono first appeared wide on the right of the Viola attack, collected the ball, opened his body and whipped a left-footed strike from outside the box. Venezia’s goalkeeper could only watch it fly past. Seconds later, the script repeated itself.
Barely a minute and 36 seconds after his first, the Argentine – already being dubbed “Mastan” – again found space on that same right channel. Again he stepped onto his left. Again he let fly from distance. Same foot, same area, same outcome: the ball buried, the home crowd stunned, and Fiorentina suddenly in front after trailing.
Two near-identical goals. Two ruthless executions. One game flipped on its head.
With Fiorentina now in control and the scoreline turning their way, Mastantuono didn’t fade. He grew into the game. Every touch carried intent, every run asked a question of a Venezia back line that no longer looked sure of itself.
The third act arrived deep in the second half.
In the 84th minute, with the scoreboard already reading 1-3, Mastantuono capped his night with the most intricate of the three. This time he didn’t rely on long-range power. He darted into the six-yard box, produced a sharp individual move, rounded or slipped past the Venezia goalkeeper and slid the ball home for 1-4. A hat-trick on debut, sealed with composure in the tightest area of the pitch.
By the 88th minute his work was done. He left the field to make way for a substitution, his job complete, his name echoing around conversations far beyond Venice.
Three goals, all different in their execution but united by the same cold clarity in front of goal. For Fiorentina, it was a comeback win on matchday four of Serie A. For Mastantuono, it felt like the start of something that Real Madrid, and the rest of Europe, will be watching very closely.
