Benfica have told Real Madrid to fork out more than £40million to sign highly-rated left-back Alvaro Carreras – but Manchester United can sign him for less than half.
Carreras, 21, joined Benfica last summer for just £5m after spending the second half of the 2023-24 season there on loan. The Spaniard, who United picked up from Madrid in 2017, never made his senior debut for the Red Devils, who also loaned him to Preston North End and Granada.
Now a regular starter for Benfica, making 30 appearances this season, Carreras' services are in high demand. The Spain Under-21 International registered his third assist of the season on Tuesday as Benfica suffered a dramatic 5-4 loss at home to Barcelona in the Champions League.
Carreras has also scored three goals for the Portuguese giants this term, flourishing under ex-Wolves boss Bruno Lage. His form has fueled speculation of a January transfer, but Benfica will not let him go cheaply.
Spanish outlet Diario as report that Benfica Chiefs have set their asking price for other clubs at €50 million (£42 million). However, United have a buyback close by for much cheaper – €20m (£17m).
United Manager Ruben Amorim's search for a left-back has led them to make a bid for LECCE's Patrick Dorgu, although the Red Devils' offer has since been rejected. United could now turn to Carreras, who was let go by predecessor Erik Ten Hag.
Barcelona have also been linked with the 21-year-old, who is in no rush to leave Benfica, where he is under contract until 2029. Asked if he had thought about leaving before deadline day, Carreras told Dazn Portugal, via record: “No.
“You never really know, but I have a contract for many years here at Benfica, I am happy. They have given me the opportunity to grow and I owe everything to them.”
Former Red Devils boss Ten Hag confirmed in October that the club would continue to monitor Carreras' progress, saying: “I think the process is perfect. We loan him to Preston, he's back, then we loan him to Granada, he didn't ' I play there so much, and of course we always observed him and now we had the opportunity to sell him.
“But we have a buyback [clause] So we have control over the situation, I think he needed that. Go from Preston, then go to La Liga, go to Portugal [with Benfica]Every time a higher club and a better league stepped up. Now we have to see and assess the situation if he can be an option for us.
“But playing for Man United is not that easy, playing in the Premier League for Manchester United is not that easy. You need experience, also development. You get development by playing for better clubs and in better competitions.”
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