849 players update 

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Halfway through the Argentine football season, Transfermarkt has updated the market values of 849 players playing in the Torneo Apertura. At the very top, River Plate’s super talent, Franco Mastantuono, has increased his lead as the most valuable player in Argentina. Following in second and third place are two players, Kevin Lomónaco and Juan Ignacio Nardoni, who are among the biggest winners of the Torneo Apertura market value update. 

“Mastantuono has consolidated his position as the most promising player playing in Argentina,” Transfermarkt Area Manager South American and Argentina, Scott Christensen, said. “The kid is clearly River’s best player; he is a leader in a squad that’s full of experienced players. His teammates trust him, and he responds. One example is him taking up the responsibility of taking a crucial free kick in the Superclásico against Boca and scoring. All that at just 17. They are going to receive many offers for him. Mastantuono is a big talent and very mature for his age.” With the offers surely coming, Transfermarkt has updated his market value by 100% from €15m to €30m. 

Also, up by 100% is the new second most valuable player in Argentina: Lomónaco. The Independiente center-back saw his market value rise from €6m to €12m. What sort of player is he? “It is kind of like having a player like Sergio Busquets play center-back,” Christensen said. “Lomónaco has a huge quality, playing always calmly from behind, and usually the one initiating Independiente’s attacks. He reads the game perfectly and enjoys leading the attack. The only flaw is his speed, as he is a bit slow and doesn’t like to challenge for balls. Not that he needs to, he often anticipates where the ball is going and doesn’t need to challenge often.” Overall, the market for Lomónaco is going to be significant this summer, justifying a big upgrade. 

Argentina market values: Nardoni now third – Big upgrades for top talents 

Third behind Mastantuono and Lomónaco is Nardoni. The 22-year-old Racing midfielder saw his market value increase by €4m from €7m to €11m. “I think we were too cautious on the last update; therefore, he’s got a bigger upgrade on this one to be at the value he deserves,” Christensen said. What sort of player is Nardoni? “He is one of those box-to-box midfielders who can play as a defensive midfielder as well. He’s strong, intense, and smart. Nardoni has been one of the most consistent players in the league over the last two years.” Not surprisingly, Nardoni has been linked with a move to Italy, England, and Germany.

Other talented players to watch include Agustín Medina from Lanús and Maher Carrizo from Vélez Sarsfield. Medina is up by 300% from €250,000 to €1m, and Carrizo saw his market value increase by 233.3% from €1.8m to €6m. Carrizo is undoubtedly one to watch. The 19-year-old striker has scored four goals in six Copa Libertadores games this season and another three in ten first division games.

How Transfermarkt market values work

The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees. 

The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).