'A Bola' confirms Álvaro Carreras's signing, date, and price of his transfer to Real Madrid

Real Madrid are playing the last matches of the Club World Cup with the intention of continuing the generational change in Santiago Bernabéu locker room. The executives led by Florentino Pérez are closely following some of the players on their list of potential signings, but they also have a deal pending to be finalized right now.

Álvaro Carreras's signing was scheduled to take place at the Valdebebas offices rightbefore the Club World Cup. The Madrid executives wanted to have the services of the Benfica defender during the competition in the United States, but the Portuguese team had other plans. After all, they were also participating in that tournament and wanted to have one of its top stars available.

Since Benfica were eliminated in the round of 16 against Chelsea, the first finalist of the Club World Cup, Real Madrid have worked to resume talks for Carreras. Without the pressure of the international tournament, the Portuguese board would have taken very little time to accept the departure of the left back.

The information published by A Bola indicates that Álvaro Carreras's signing by Real Madrid will become official very soon. The agreement between the white club's sporting management and Benfica's top officials is in its final stage, given that some "final details" are being finalized.

A matter of days

This signing means that Álvaro Carreras will definitely miss Benfica's first preseason training session. Bruno Lage's players were supposed to return to training next Monday, but the current "3" of the Portuguese team won't be with his teammates.

One of the most recurring questions regarding Álvaro Carreras's signing is the transfer fee that Real Madrid must pay to make this move possible. Benfica insisted on the full payment of the release clause, €50 million (about $54.4 million), a figure that was not well received at the Valdebebas offices. The executives led by Florentino Pérez considered the price requested from the Estádio da Luz's boardroom excessive.

Again, the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, as well as journalist Alberto Pereiro, have indicated what Álvaro Carreras's final price is: exactly €45 million (about $48.9 million). This pending payment from Real Madrid would be below the exit clause set by Benfica in the Spanish defender's contract.

After long weeks without news about Álvaro Carreras's signing, it seems that the left back's future is about to be solved. This signing has remained one of the white club's pending matters despite Fran García's excellent performance in the Club World Cup, a situation that has already been debated.