Benfica has decided to keep Álvaro Carreras in their squad for the Club World Cup, despite Real Madrid's attempts to sign him. The operation did not materialize before the tournament, leaving the whites empty-handed in their search for a left-back.
The Lisbon club, placed in Group C alongside Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors, and Auckland City, hopes to advance to the knockout stages. Rui Costa, president of Benfica, has made it clear that Carreras is a key piece in his team and that no agreement was reached with Madrid, despite the Spanish club's clear interest in the player.
“We have not reached an agreement with Real Madrid. Carreras plays the Club World Cup with us and is a Benfica player,” Rui Costa stated at the inauguration of Benfica's Residential Academy in Tampa, Florida. The president also mentioned that there were proposals that did not convince the club, both for Carreras and for other players.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, is in the midst of one of the most intense transfer markets in recent years. With the arrivals of Franco Mastantuono and Huijsen, the white club has been looking to strengthen its squad after a disappointing season. However, the lack of an agreement for Carreras has left a void in the left-back position that the club has been unable to fill.
“We will see what happens with the entire market, not just with Álvaro,” Rui Costa added, leaving the door open for future negotiations. Madrid, which has been willing to pay high figures for new signings, will need to rethink its strategy if it wants to secure Carreras's arrival after the World Cup.
The situation becomes even more complicated for Madrid, which had to shell out 10 million euros for Trent Alexander-Arnold to break his contract with Liverpool and join the team in the United States. With fan pressure and the need for immediate results, the white club must act quickly if it wants to avoid Carreras becoming a lost target.
In summary, Álvaro Carreras's future remains uncertain, but his participation in the Club World Cup is a fact. Benfica clings to their player, while Real Madrid will need to look for alternatives if they fail to close the operation in the near future.