Franco Mastantuono has hit the ground running at Real Madrid. His opening trio under Xabi Alonso could not have been better.
Signing from River Plate in the summer, he made his debut from the bench in the opening Liga fixture against Osasuna. He then started the next two matches against Real Oviedo and Mallorca, playing well in each of them.
There was no rest for Mastantuono over the international break, as he was involved in action for Argentina against Venezuela.
The 18-year-old is playing a lot right now, but these are the demands of European soccer. He won't wish that time away, as wearing the Royal White Real Madrid jersey is one of the biggest honors in the sports world.
Unfortunately, though, his Real Madrid journey is about to hit a brick wall, and it's up to him about whether he gets crushed by it or climbs over it.
Jude Bellingham has been out of action for the opening three games, and he's expected to return from his injury spell soon. Some reports even suggest that Bellingham could return THIS month, which is ahead of his original return timeframe.
While this is great news for the Real Madrid community at large, it won't be good news for Franco Mastantuono.
When the 18-year-old arrived, he wouldn't have expected to beat Jude Bellingham to the Real Madrid starting lineup. After all, Bellingham is one of the best players in the world, and has a chokehold on his position already. But Mastantuono has grown to quite like playing in the Real Madrid setup in Bellingham's absence.
However, one player has to be dropped when Jude returns, and unfortunately, it will have to be Mastantuono. He might be playing the best football of his career to date, but he's surrounded by world-class players. He's simply a big fish in a gigantic pond of gigantic fish.
But, don't get it twisted, this doesn't mean the end of Mastantuono.
Mastantuono is just going back to square one, working his way into the starting lineup eventually. He will rely on Copa del Rey matches and Champions League group phase matches to make a name for himself in the Real Madrid setup.
Having impressed Xabi Alonso already, Mastantuono is already better placed than he was when he first joined. It is through no fault of his own that he'll take a step back to a rotational role when Bellingham returns.
Heck, who knows? Between now and then, Mastantuono might put in a few blinding performances that make him simply unbenchable, and we'll have to eat our words. Time will tell.