FIFA regulations might hinder Real Madrid and Manchester United’s plans regarding Benfica full-back Alvaro Carreras.
According to O Jogo via SportWitness, Manchester United’s plan to re-sign Alvaro Carreras and then sell him to Real Madrid this summer might not be viable. FIFA regulations would block such a move as it would come under ‘bridge transfers’.
Carreras who was a part of the Los Blancos youth setup back in the day made the move to United back in 2020. He went up the ranks at Old Trafford and got promoted to their first team in 2022. While he did have a few impressive loan spells, he couldn’t break into this first-team plan.
He joined Benfica on a short loan at the start of 2024. Thanks to his impressive performances, the Portuguese giants made the move permanent last summer. The 22-year-old Spanish full-back has certainly enjoyed his time at the Portuguese club.
He has been involved in a total of 47 matches this season and has contributed towards nine goals. His impressive performances have re-ignited Real Madrid’s interest in him. The team in white want to bring him back to the club but they are not willing to meet Benfica’s demands.
With his contract running until 2029, the Portuguese club wants Los Blancos to pay his €50 million release clause. With Ferland Mendy struggling to stay fit, signing a left-back is one of their priorities but they are still not willing to fork out that big a fee on the 22-year-old.
Madrid’s pursuit of Carreras has suffered a blow
As a result, the Spanish giants have reportedly reached out to his former club Manchester United for assistance. The Red Devils have a €18 million buy-back clause in Carreras’ contract, and Los Blancos want them to trigger the clause, bring him back to Old Trafford, and then sell him on for €30–35 million.
United are interested in such a transfer as it is a win-win situation for all parties involved, except Benfica. Ruben Amorim’s team will have significant financial profit, while the team in white can sign their target for a much lower fee.
While both clubs were planning on such a transfer, O Jogo’s report suggests that FIFA regulations will block such a move. It will come under bridge transfers which prevent two consecutive transfers of the same player within a period of 16 weeks.
The only way out could be for him to return to Old Trafford and wait until the winter as both the Red Devils and Los Blancos might not want to face any sanctions from FIFA. Meanwhile, the player is in no rush to switch clubs, he is happy to continue at Benfica for another year even though is not really keen on penning a new deal with the current one running until 2029.
