Alvaro Carreras responds to Man Utd return links

Tom Weber

Updated: 25 Oct 2024 12:42 BST
3 min read

Alvaro Carreras, Benfica, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Benfica left-back Alvaro Carreras has responded to suggestions that Manchester United could trigger their buy-back clause in 2025.

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The Spaniard officially left the Red Devils in the summer after a couple of unsuccessful loans at Preston and Granada. Benfica took Carreras on board in January and signed him permanently for €6 million in July.

The Real Madrid youth product has started like a house on fire in Portugal, establishing himself as one of the best in his position in the league, while Man Utd have struggled to find a proper solution to their left-back problems.

Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have rarely been seen on the pitch over the past 12 months due to injury, which has forced Erik ten Hag into using Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot on the left side of the defence.

Naturally, then, links to left-backs have been a frequent sight in the media and Carreras, in particular, is an easy name to associate with the Red Devils.

Carreras responds

The links with the 21-year-old have been stoked by Ten Hag himself as he recently confirmed that Man Utd have a €20m buy-back clause and that they are keeping a close eye on his development.

"I think the process is perfect," Ten Hag said. "We loan him to Preston, he got back, then we loan him to Granada, he didn’t play so much there, and of course we, all the time, observed him and now we had the opportunity to sell him.

"But we have a buy-back so we have control of the situation, I think that’s what he needed. From Preston, then go to La Liga, go to Portugal, every time stepping up to a higher club and a better league. Now we have to see and assess the situation if he can be an option for us.

"But playing at Man Utd is not so easy, playing in the Premier League for Manchester United is not so easy. You need experience, also development. You get development from playing for better clubs and in better leagues."

Now, Carreras himself has responded to the speculation, insisting that he is only focused on Benfica after their disappointing 3-1 Champions League loss to Feyenoord. “I only think about Benfica. I’m only focused here. I’ll try to keep up the same level, try to help the team as much as possible. I’m just another player on the team."