Real Madrid Splashes €50 Million to Bring Back Alvaro Carreras After Letting Him Walk Away for Nothing
After five years away, Álvaro Carreras has returned to Real Madrid.
The Spanish left-back was acquired for €50 million ($58.4 million) from Benfica, where he had moved permanently just last summer following his departure from Manchester United. The Portuguese club had invested merely €6 million ($7 million) as part of the loan agreement from England.
Throughout his stint at Benfica, spanning only 18 months, Carreras established himself among Europe's most promising defensive prospects, ready to command the left wing for Los Blancos potentially for the next ten years.
Carreras, previously called Álvaro Fernández before choosing his maternal surname, is a driven player who initially departed Real Madrid at 17 when Manchester United offered him superior terms. He had arrived three years prior from Deportivo La Coruña but encountered difficulties during his third and final campaign in the Spanish capital.
The Athletic revealed that Valdebebas coaching personnel didn't consider Carreras the most talented left-back at the academy—that distinction belonged to David de la Vibora, currently a student-athlete at Marshall University. Consequently, he was repositioned to midfield and eventually seized the chance to move to Manchester for an "exceptional" deal, after also informing Real they lacked faith in his potential.
Looking back, this has turned out to be a €50 million error.
Though his opportunity at Manchester never materialized either, frustrating Carreras who criticized former manager Erik ten Hag for lacking confidence in him—particularly regarding his defensive capabilities, proof was evident when he faced Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal in the Champions League while playing for Benfica last season and performed admirably.
That performance alone might justify making Carreras the second most costly defender in Real Madrid's history, trailing only Dean Huijsen (€57.7 million, $67 million), despite previously releasing him. If a player can neutralize Yamal, they're undoubtedly exceptional.
In truth, the current Carreras differs from the player Los Blancos initially knew.
While Madrid's staff may have misjudged by favoring another prospect previously, his experiences in Manchester and Lisbon have been vital to his growth over these five years. Without those experiences and the obstacles that molded him—including adjusting to different countries, clubs, and playing styles—his path might have been entirely different.
Most importantly, Real Madrid required a left-back. Ferland Mendy has been too inconsistent during his Spanish tenure due to injuries, with limited Fran García and aging David Alaba as backup options last season—Alaba struggled notably against Arsenal in the Champions League.
Carreras, who has openly drawn inspiration from Madrid icons Roberto Carlos and Marcelo, represented the finest available option. His familiarity with the club might even benefit him since, as he expressed during his presentation, returning "means everything." To reject someone based on a previous error would undermine Real's core values.