Manager Xabi Alonso has decided which player he wants to bring to Real Madrid, having already welcomed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono to the club.
Alonso, 43, has so far led Real Madrid to three wins and one draw in his first four games as manager at the Club World Cup. A recent 1-0 win over Juventus secured them a quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday.
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New signings Alexander-Arnold (26) and Huijsen (20) have both been used in all four games by Alonso, while Mastantuono (17) played for River Plate in the tournament and will join Los Blancos on August 14, when he turns 18.
But Real Madrid’s transfer business this summer is not quite finished yet.
According to journalist Jorge Picón, the club can still sign Spanish Benfica left-back Álvaro Carreras.
Picón wrote on social media:
“Real Madrid are not closing the door on the market, but they are not working on any more reinforcements beyond Carreras this summer. Just a squad or an unexpected opportunity can change the situation, but it’s considered that the squad is already competitive enough.”
Already in May, The Mail reported that Real Madrid were in talks about a transfer for the former Manchester United left-back.
Spanish news source Relevo even suggested that Alonso personally requested the signing.
Carreras, who is under contract with Benfica until the summer of 2029, recorded four goals and five assists in the 2024/25 season, as Benfica finished second behind Sporting CP in the Primeira Liga.
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How can a move to Madrid benefit Manchester United?
According to the Manchester Evening News in May, United had a buy-back clause in the deal when Carreras left the club for £5 million in May 2024.
A clause of around £15 million was included, while clubs other than United will have to pay a release clause of €50 million (£42.1 million).
United have also retained a 20% resale clause on Carreras for any future transfer worth more than £5 million.
If the 22-year-old were to join Los Blancos, he would compete with Fran García, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy for a place in Alonso’s starting line-up.
