Atletico Madrid will reportedly compete with Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester City to sign 22-year-old Spanish full-back Alvaro Carreras from SL Benfica.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Alvaro Carreras is the subject of interest from Atletico Madrid. The Colchoneros are scouring the market for a left-back heading into the summer transfer window and have set their sights on the SL Benfica star. However, they will face stiff competition from Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester City for the Spanish full-back.
The making of Alvaro Carreras
Alvaro Carreras has resurrected his stuttering career since joining SL Benfica from Manchester United. A native of Ferrol, the Spaniard spent most of his formative years in his homeland but graduated from the fabled youth division at Manchester United after joining the Premier League club in 2020.
However, the 22-year-old could not establish a foothold in the first-team squad at Manchester United and landed on his feet after joining SL Benfica, his third loan stint away from Old Trafford. The Portuguese giants completed a permanent move for the youngster last summer, and he has not looked back since then.
A man in demand
The Spanish full-back has turned out over 50 times thus far for Benfica while chipping in with five goals and six assists. Meanwhile, his progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester City. Los Rojiblancos will dip into the market for a left-back amid uncertainties surrounding Reinildo Mandava’s long-term future.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s interest in Alvaro Carreras makes sense. Pep Guardiola has used makeshift options in the left-back berth and wants to address that issue in the summer transfer window, with the SL Benfica star emerging as a viable target. As for Barcelona, Hansi Flick wants two top-notch options for every position.
So, Carreras is an option worth considering to compete with Alejandro Balde. Meanwhile, Real Madrid must sign a left-back in the summer transfer window, considering Ferland Mendy has blown hot and cold this season. While Fran Garcia is a dependable performer, he is not good enough to be the first-choice full-back.
However, Manchester City, Barcelona, and Real Madrid might fall behind Atletico Madrid in the chase, with Los Blancos identifying the 22-year-old Spanish full-back as the priority target for the summer transfer window. So, it will be interesting to see if he returns to his homeland in the coming months.
