Álvaro Carreras. His name may not mean anything to you, yet the native of Ferrol has continued to make an impression since the start of the season. Arriving in the Portuguese capital last July, the left back of SL Benfica stands out for his defensive solidity and his undeniable contribution to the edge of the opponent’s area. Qualities which quickly caught the eye of Bruno Lage, manager of the Eagles. Having become an indisputable starter in the eyes of his coach, the 21-year-old Spaniard notably distinguished himself during the clash against Atlético de Madrid on the second day of the Champions League (4-0).
Thunderous debut with SL Benfica
Trained at Real Madrid before leaving his native country to join Manchester United, the 1m86 left-hander finally had a series of loans during his time with the Red Devils. After an experience with Preston, the 21-year-old nugget flew to Granada. Barred by the competition, Álvaro Carreras was ultimately never able to win at Old Trafford and left the Mancunian team last July. Transferred for a check for 6 million euros, the number 3 of the SLB has since gained strength, now to the delight of the Lisbon team.
A trajectory which does not go unnoticed. According to the latest information from the Portuguese media O JogoManchester United, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are monitoring the young defender’s performances in detail, with live observations and data collection to formulate a final report. If the Merengues already have Ferland Mendy (29 years old) and Fran García (25 years old) as options, while the Blaugranas can rely on Alex Baldé (20 years old) and Gerard Martín (22 years old), such a promising profile does not never leaves you indifferent.
The Red Devils are thinking of repatriating him but…
For its part, Manchester United – which is still having difficulty finding defensive stability – would not be against the idea of repatriating its former protégé. A choice, again, questioning for a player who now has a release clause valued at 50 million euros. Acquiring Álvaro Carreras in the coming months would therefore constitute a heavy investment for the Red Devils, especially for a player who was still in the Mancunian squad only a few weeks ago. One thing is certain, if the battle promises to be grandiose between these three giants of Europe, other big names are also on the lookout.
With this in mind, the Lusitanian media adds that the Colchoneros, impressed by the performance of the young Spaniard (7 starts in 9 matches since the start of the season) on October 2, are also considering the idea of taking action. At the same time, Thiago Motta’s Juventus Turin are keeping an eye on the situation and will also seek to do well. In the meantime, the international Espoirs de la Roja (8 caps with the U21s) will continue to bring happiness from the Estádio da Luz and try to confirm all the hopes placed in him. Before a hot winter transfer window? Response in the coming weeks…
