Real Madrid signed 22-year-old Spanish left-back Álvaro Carreras on a €50 million transfer. The former Benfica player signed until June 2031. The signing is at a time when Madrid requires to fix a left-back spot which has been shaky for quite a while, mainly through injury and inconsistency. Carreras arrives to fight with Fran García and Mendy, who has struggled with lasting fitness issues.
Carreras played only two matches for Benfica
The move didn't materialize until the La Liga season finished, mainly due to the way they organized the payment. But this was no act of desperation. Real Madrid had been targeting Carreras for years, and the moment the season concluded, his name rushed to the head of the club's wanted list. To sign him for seven seasons shows how confident they are in him, even though he barely played in Portugal.
Carreras appeared only twice at the Club World Cup for Benfica, he was just coming back from injury, thus limited playing time. However, Madrid did not feel it was the moment to bring him in yet. They have been following him since he passed through their youth system in 2017.
He broke out at Deportivo La Coruña and did a short stint within the youth system of Madrid before moving to Manchester United. He was not given much of an opportunity there, was loaned out to Preston North End, got a shot with Granada, and later ended up at Benfica, where he played for the 2024 season.
Nothing is guaranteed, and a fight in front
With Carreras coming in, Real Madrid now has three of those left-back positions locked up. Fran García is still fighting to secure a spot, and Mendy's been struggling to stay healthy for years. That uncertainty led the club to look outside for some extra depth.
Carreras is not walking into a virtual starting position. Not by a long shot. He'll need to earn his playing time in a team that does not easily relinquish it. The coaches will likely take their time deciding where he belongs, and he'll need to battle for his place.
Spending €50 million on a player who underplayed last season is a risk, no doubt. But Real Madrid obviously sees this as more than a temporary fix. They've been tracking him for a while now, and bringing him in until 2031 suggests that they believe there is something to work from here.