Spanish soccer giant Real Madrid has made an official offer for one of its top transfer targets according to market expert Fabrizio Romano, who cited anonymous sources on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Real Madrid have now made official club to club contact with Benfica for Álvaro Carreras, deal could be done soon!,” Romano tweeted.
“Talks are now underway. Agreement already done with the player on personal terms. Excellent relationship between Benfica and Real,” the Italian added.
Carreras is of course of course a former star of Madrid’s La Fabrica academy who left the club in 2017 as a teenager.
From said year until 2020, he continued his youth soccer journey at Manchester United and turned professional in northwestern England though he failed to make a single senior appearance for the Red Devils amid loan spells at Preston North End and Granada in his homeland Spain.
Another temporary assignment in Lisbon proved the most successful of the three while still on United’s books, and Portuguese giants Benfica made the deal permanent by reportedly paying a €6 million fee for the left back which would be mandatory if he started more than 50% of his new club’s games.
Carreras did that and then some, and played a pivotal role in Benfica’s run to the Champions League last 16.
Though his team fell to Spanish domestic kings FC Barcelona, Carreras was commended for doing a good job of keeping Lamine Yamal under wraps, which might have influenced Madrid president Florentino Perez’s decision to make a pursuit for the 22-year-old.
Romano didn’t quote any figures for the potential capture, but Defensa Central, citing anonymous sources, reported that Madrid will offer a maximum of €30 million for his services.
Real Madrid continues to make defensive reinforcements
Buying Carreras would see Madrid continue to make defensive reinforcements after Perez refused to do so in past seasons while Carlo Ancelotti was still in charge.
Already, we have seen Los Blancos sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth by triggering his £50 million release clause. In the coming weeks, we should also expect to see Trent Alexander-Arnold become a Real Madrid Galactico by switching allegiances on a free transfer from Liverpool.