Real Madrid is actively pursuing player signings ahead of the Club World Cup, having already officially announced the acquisition of Huijsen and reportedly finalizing a deal for Arnold. Their current focus is on strengthening the left-back position, with Álvaro Carreras identified as a key target.
Carreras, a former youth player at Real Madrid, is being considered to bolster the team’s defense, although negotiations are proving challenging due to Benfica’s firm stance on his €50 million release clause. The Real Madrid management is looking for ways to reduce this amount in discussion.
In a turn of events, Manchester United, who sold Carreras to Benfica last summer, reportedly retained a buy-back clause worth €18 million. The English club is contemplating activating this clause and then selling Carreras to Real Madrid for around €35 million, which would provide a more favorable deal for the Spanish club while offering United a profit from the maneuver.
Despite this potential strategy, reports suggest that Carreras is not keen on the arrangement. He has expressed gratitude towards Benfica and would prefer negotiations to be conducted directly with the Portuguese club to ensure they receive the maximum compensation.
As the Club World Cup approaches, Real Madrid has secured Huijsen, who will join the squad on June 1, potentially allowing him to participate in the tournament. They are similarly working on finalizing Arnold’s move from Liverpool. However, Carreras’ situation is more precarious due to Benfica’s ongoing competitive commitments: they are tied for points in the Portuguese league and scheduled to play in the cup final on May 24. Additionally, Benfica’s participation in the Club World Cup may hinder any potential transfer until after the completion of these tournaments.
Despite the complexities of the negotiations, Real Madrid remains optimistic about reinforcing their squad and is actively looking for creative solutions to make the desired signings.