Who Exactly Is Álvaro Carreras? Real Madrid's Next Young Gem

Xabi Alonso's backline reshuffle looks set to continue as the Galacticos close in on a third defensive signing of the summer, 22-year-old left-back, Álvaro Carreras, from SL Benfica for a reported €45 million fee.

🚨⚪️ Real Madrid and Benfica are now closing in on the agreement for Álvaro Carreras!

Negotiations very advanced as Álvaro only wants Real Madrid, personal terms are sealed since June.

The deal can be formally closed after the Club World Cup. Almost there, as @marca calls. ⏳🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/1QzGla34hc

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 8, 2025

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United youngster joins high-profile signings Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold in what is shaping to be a fresh rearguard on display at the Bernabeu next season.

Álvaro Carreras - Who Is He?

Spanish-born Carreras started his career in the youth ranks of Racing de Ferrol and Deportivo La Coruna, before being snapped up by Real Madrid in 2017.

In 2020, numerous high-profile European sides vied for his signature, including Barcelona and Manchester City. Still, it was Manchester United who prevailed, as Carreras penned a four-year deal at Old Trafford.

After making the move to England, the young Spaniard's career didn't take off as the Red Devils perhaps would've envisioned. Despite being at the club for four years, Carreras failed to make a single appearance for the first team.

During his time in England, however, he impressed with the United Under-23s, winning their Player of the Season award in 2022, and enjoyed a successful loan spell with Preston North End the following season, where he made 39 appearances in all competitions and won their Young Player of the Season award.

It was a bittersweet start to the 2023/24 season as he made his debut for Spain's Under-21 side in a 6-0 victory over Malta, but then endured an ill-fated loan move to La Liga side Grenada, where he was recalled after making just 13 appearances.

For the second half of the season, he was shipped out to Benfica on loan, with his Manchester United career all but over. After making 11 appearances during his loan spell, Benfica activated a clause in the contract to make the move permanent for €6 million, and the left-back signed a deal until 2029.

🇪🇸🚨 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐋 | 𝐀́𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐬 (𝟐𝟏) will win the SL Benfica's Breakthrough Player Award tonight, voted by the fans

So well-deserved.

Fantastic Season. Fantastic Player. pic.twitter.com/7Xvjh2VuED

— Rising Stars XI (@RisingStarXI) March 20, 2025

Last season is what piqued Real Madrid's interest and forced them to take a closer look at the one who got away. Carreras starred as Benfica won the Taça da Liga (Portuguese League Cup), and the fullback was named in the official Primera Liga Team of the Year.

But why exactly are Real shelling out €45 million on him?

What can Real Madrid fans expect?

It is no secret that left-back is a problem area for Real, and one that they are actively looking to rectify.

Ferland Mendy is now on the wrong side of 30, and his injury record is not encouraging, having missed 23 games last term. Fran Garcia has made a strong case for himself with impressive performances in the Club World Cup, but it seems Alonso is keen to strengthen further.

Alvaro Carreras vs. Boca Juniors pic.twitter.com/SnmGGPPdi1

— Drix (@drixprods) June 17, 2025

Carreras has impressed both domestically and in Europe for Benfica, with Real Madrid paying particular attention to his displays in the Champions League. He has an attacking profile which is key for any Real Madrid player, with his boundless energy and ability to provide a constant option to Vinicus Jr. While he may not possess the passing range of his opposite fullback, Alexander-Arnold, he does have a great deal more pace, which gives varied options on both flanks.

Xabi Alonso may be looking for someone in a similar mould to Alejandro Grimaldo, who was one of his star players whilst at Bayer Leverkusen and a constant attacking outlet. On the surface, Carreras does not match Grimaldo's output in terms of goals and assists, but few fullbacks in Europe do. However, a closer look at the underlying stats does highlight similarities between the two.

Carreras and Grimaldo, who both enjoyed success with Benfica, were virtual ever-presents for their sides as both players started over 40 games last term. In an attacking sense, they both created over two shot-creating actions per 90, but Carreras is perhaps more impressive, given that he achieved these with far less reliance on set pieces. He also ranks second highest within Europe's Top 7 leagues for passes into the final third.

🇪🇺 Top 7 League U23 Fullbacks: Passes to final third per 90

🇭🇷 Joško Gvardiol (9.06)
🇪🇸 Álvaro Carreras (8.9
🇳🇴 Oliver Braude (8.69)
🇵🇹 Nuno Mendes (8.43)
🇪🇸 Mika Mármol (7.42)

📊 https://t.co/McR5zrPkTO pic.twitter.com/nFXpDkh5Tl

— DataMB (@DataMB_) July 9, 2025

Defensively, Carreras ranks considerably better than Grimaldo. The 22-year-old attempted 83 tackles with a success rate of 58.2% compared to Grimaldo's 42 attempted and 42.4% success rate. A cause for concern could be his disciplinary record, as he accumulated 14 yellow cards last term, which is more than Mendy, Garcia, and Grimaldo combined.

Real Madrid's set-up in the Club World Cup provided indications of their shape for the upcoming season, with the fullbacks being deployed more as wing-backs, a role that Carreras is adept at and possesses the qualities to thrive in. Last season, he was also occasionally required to fill in as a left-sided centre back, which provides Real with an additional option if needed.

We know that Real Madrid has the pulling power to sign the world's best, but their ability to find and nurture future stars is also something to be highlighted. The signing of Carreras would fit that remit, and he will be hoping to achieve similar degrees of success to the likes of Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr, and Ernesto Valverde, who were not household names before their moves to the Bernabeu.

The pressure of returning to your former club with a point to prove can sometimes be too much for players, but Carreras need only look at a couple of Madrid's recent fullbacks if he is short on inspiration.

The Carvajal and Vázquez Blueprint

Lucas Vázquez and more notably, Dani Carvajal, had to earn their stripes away from Real Madrid before Los Blancos came calling again.

After being sold at age 20, Dani Carvajal showed his worth in his only season with Bayer Leverkusen, which prompted Real to activate the buy-back clause of €6.5 million. After his return, Carvajal went on to become one of the club's most successful defenders, with four La Liga and six Champions League titles to his name, as well as continued success with the national team for over 10 years.

Similarly, Lucas Vázquez was sold by Real Madrid to Espanyol in 2015, when he was 23 years old, but he returned to the club the following season. Although never truly cementing himself among Real Madrid's elite players, Vazquez proved to be an invaluable asset, making 400 appearances before leaving the club this summer. Like Carvajal, his trophy cabinet also boasts an impressive collection of four La Liga and five Champions League titles.

Real Madrid rarely affords second chances, so Álvaro Carreras will be hoping to grasp this opportunity with both hands and follow in a similar vein to the likes of Carvajal and Vázquez.