Real Madrid in talks with Benfica over Alvaro Carreras move

New York Times

20-05-2025

Real Madrid are in talks with Benfica over a move for left-back Alvaro Carreras.
Carreras' has a release clause of €50million in his Benfica contract, but Madrid are hoping to reach an agreement over a lower fee.
The 22-year-old is keen on a move to Madrid, but will communicate his decision following the Portuguese Cup final against Sporting CP on Sunday. Talks between the club and player are expected to speed up following Sunday's game, which marks the end of Benfica's season.
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If a move for Carreras is successful, Madrid expect him to be available for this summer's Club World Cup, which begins on June 14.
Madrid are in the market to add depth to the left-back position this summer, with Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez and Bayer Leverkusen's Alejandro Grimaldo among the other names under consideration.
Girona left-back Miguel Gutierrez also remains an option for Madrid, who hold a €8m buyback clause for the 23-year-old.
Carreras was in Madrid's academy between 2017 and 2020, but never made an appearance for the senior side and subsequently joined Manchester United.
He did not make a first-team appearance for United either, and had loan spells at Championship side Preston North End and Spanish team Granada before being loaned to Benfica in January 2024. The deal contained an option to make the deal permanent for €6m, which was exercised by Benfica in May that year.
United do hold buyback clause as part of the deal that saw Carreras move to Benfica, and this stands at €18m with some small add-ons.
The Athletic reported in the DealSheet in January United were weighing up whether to trigger the clause. United eventually signed Patrick Dorgu for €30m from Lecce in their January pursuit of a left-back, but were considering bringing Carreras back to Old Trafford if negotiations with Lecce stalled. Sources close to Carreras had indicated they were not considering a move in the January market.
Carreras has made 65 appearances Benfica, scoring five goals and providing six assists. He lifted the first silverware of his career when Benfica won the Taça da Liga, the Portuguese league cup, earlier this year.
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