He was Alvaro Fernandez at Man United, where he did not get a kick, and now Alvaro Carreras is a Real Madrid player.
Carreras never played for United
Carreras never played for United
Manchester United could receive up to £7.5million from Alvaro Carreras's transfer to Real Madrid.
Left back Fernandez joined Madrid from Benfica in a €43m deal on Monday and United are entitled to a 15% sell-on fee.
Fernandez, 22, joined Benfica from United for €9m last year. United inserted a buy-back clause that they never exercised.
United signed Carreras, previously known as Fernandez, from Real Madrid's academy when he was aged 17 in 2020 and he was named their under 21 player of the year in 2021-22 but he never made a competitive appearance for the club.
Interim United manager Ralf Rangnick named Fernandez on the bench in his final four games in charge of the 2021-22 season before Erik ten Hag took over.
While Fernandez was at United, the club bought left back Tyrell Malacia, whom they now want to sell, handed Luke Shaw a four-year contract and brought in Sergio Reguilon, whose season-long loan was terminated early in January 2024.
Ten Hag also played at least three right-footers - Diogo Dalot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Sofyan Amrabat - at left back while Fernandez was under contract at United. Toby Collyer and Noussair Mazraoui also played at left back last season and both are right-footed.
Ten Hag named Fernandez in the matchday squad only once - against Nottingham Forest in August 2023. When asked about the decision to sell Fernandez last year amid the club's ongoing issues at left back, Ten Hag said: “I think the process is perfect.
"We loaned him to Preston, he got back, then we loaned him to Granada, but he didn't play so much there and of course, all the time we observed him.
"Now we had the opportunity to sell him, but we have a buy-back, so we have control of the situation. But I think that's what he needed from Preston, then go to La Liga, then the next step Portugal, every time stepping up to a higher club and a better league, so we have to see and assess the situation if he can maybe be an option for us in the future.
"But playing for Man United and in the Premier League is not so easy. You need experience and you need development, and you get it playing for better clubs and in better leagues."
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