Manchester United are weighing a move to bring back Álvaro Carreras, the 23-year-old left-back they let walk for a fraction of his current value just two years ago. The defender, now at Real Madrid, is reportedly seeking more playing time, and his former club is among those circling.
Carreras left United for Benfica in 2024 for roughly €6 million. Real Madrid then bought him from the Portuguese club in July 2025 for €50 million. United, for their part, collected an estimated £7 million sell-on fee from that deal. Now they may have to pay a premium to get him back.
The long way home
Born on March 23, 2003, Carreras started in Real Madrid’s famed La Fabrica academy before making the jump to Manchester United in September 2020. Carreras made zero senior appearances for Manchester United. Not a single one.
The club eventually sold him to Benfica in 2024. In Lisbon, Carreras did what he couldn’t do in Manchester: he played. And he played well enough that Real Madrid decided they wanted him back. They paid €50 million for the privilege, signing him to a six-year contract in July 2025.
