Alvaro Carreras
Alvaro Carreras in action for SL Benfica
Alvaro Carreras will reportedly leave Benfica at the end of the season but a return to Manchester United is said to be off the cards.
When United sold the defender to the Portuguese giants for £5million - potentially rising to £8m with add-ons - after a successful loan spell 12 months ago, Old Trafford chiefs initially protected themselves in case the player developed into one sought after by Europe’s top clubs.
To prevent a potential rival from strengthening whilst improving themselves, a buy-back option worth around £15m was included. However, Real Madrid have still managed to convince the 22-year-old over a return to the Spanish capital after an impressive season in Lisbon.
That's according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, who claims that the left-back has already 'accepted' Real Madrid as his next destination. It's said the Spanish side will 'accelerate talks' with Benfica after the Portugal Cup on May 25.
Benfica boss Bruno Lage publicly addressed the interest earlier this month, stating: "When I arrived here, Carreras was a flop and now Atletico and Real Madrid are interested. What is more important is what we think about the player.
"He is a player who has contributed to the team, who has been used the most by us, and I am pleased with him. He is very important to our dynamic.
"Regarding Carreras, I said he was a flop because I didn't know the player."
The Spanish defender has been a regular starter under Lage, making 30 Liga Betclic starts this season.
Carreras signed for United in 2020, joining the club from Real Madrid, but would spend the majority of his career in the famed Old Trafford youth set-up as well as a season on loan at Preston North End and half a year on loan at Granada before he completed his switch to Benfica.
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