Real Madrid are gearing up for the Club World Cup semifinals against PSG on Wednesday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
They are expected to wrap up the Alvaro Carreras deal once the tournament ends. Recent reports have suggested that Real Madrid have resumed talks with Benfica.
Los Blancos were desperate to sign the Spanish left-back from Benfica ahead of the Club World Cup, but the deal failed to materialise back then.
Carreras is set to cost €50m ($58m), and as per several reports, it is almost certain that the former Manchester United player will be moving to Santiago Bernabeu.
In between, the Spanish giants have also played a masterstroke as they have been in negotiations with Benfica over a Castilla player, Rafa Obrador.
As per Diario AS, Real Madrid have allowed Obrador to join Benfica for €5m ($5.8m) initial transfer fee plus a buy-back clause included in his deal.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Los Blancos have leveraged Benfica’s interest in Obrador to lure a move for Carreras. The Castilla star has been signed as Carreras’ replacement at Benfica.
Obrador, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at RC Deportivo, has shown some glimpses of brilliance at left-back, and therefore Benfica were interested in him.
Real Madrid will also be keeping track of the 21-year-old’s development in Portugal.
What would Carreras bring to Real Madrid?
Since Xabi Alonso’s arrival, Los Blancos have made some exceptional defensive signings in Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
🚨💣 EXCLUSIVE: Real Madrid are closing in on Álvaro Carreras deal… with Rafael Obrador to Benfica included as part of negotiations.
Fixed fee plus Obrador deal at the final stages with clubs set to complete the agreement in next days.
Carreras to Real, here we go soon. 🤍🧨 pic.twitter.com/7cbmfkIJC6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 8, 2025
The team management aren’t too pleased with their options at left-back and therefore they identified Carreras as the ideal player to fit in Alonso’s system.
The young Spanish left-back is physically strong, has good endurance and his defensive game is built around his positioning and ball recovery.
At 21, he is still raw with plenty of promise to develop into one of the best full-backs of this generation.
He had his best season with Benfica in the 2024/25 campaign, featuring in 54 appearances across competitions.
As per FBref, he averaged 6.63 progressive passes, 2.85 progressive carries, 1.12 successful take-ons, 2.76 shot-creating actions and 1.31 interceptions per 90 minutes.
Carreras also featured for Benfica in the ongoing Club World Cup as the Portuguese outfit got knocked out in the round of 16.
