Madrid won't pay Carreras's release clause, the final transfer price

Álvaro Carreras will be a Real Madrid player, but the club won't pay the €50 million clause upfront.

According to sources close to the deal, Madrid has reached a direct agreement with Benfica to finalize the signing in installments. In other words, the clause won't be executed unilaterally.

This way, the club avoids an institutional conflict with the Portuguese team and achieves financial flexibility to take on the deal.

Agreement reached after weeks of tension

For several weeks, talks were at a standstill. Benfica wanted to keep Carreras for the Club World Cup, while Madrid aimed to complete the signing before the tournament.

In the end, the footballer played with the Lisbon team in the United States. However, after Benfica's elimination, both sides moved closer again.

Now, with the tournament already over, both clubs have reached an understanding. The total amount will be €50 million, but paid in installments.

A strategic signing for Madrid

Carreras returns to the club where he trained between 2017 and 2020. At that time, the lack of opportunities led him to Manchester United, where he also failed to establish himself with the first team.

After loans to Preston and Granada, he signed for Benfica in 2024. There, he broke out and established himself as one of the most promising left-backs in the European scene.

Madrid has been following him for months. They also considered Grimaldo, but the Carreras option was always a priority.

Xabi Alonso sees him as a key piece because of his versatility and range. He can play as a classic full-back, wing-back, or even move into central areas to free up Alexander-Arnold on the right.

A solution to the problems on the left flank

The club needed a profile like this. Mendy has had many physical problems and Fran García hadn't fully convinced.

Carreras, with pace, intensity, and defensive solidity, arrives to offer alternatives. His profile fits both a back three and a back four.

In addition, he adds value in regulatory terms. Having come through the youth academy, he qualifies as a homegrown player, something valuable in the Champions League.

Madrid has acted intelligently. It secures a strategic signing, avoids tensions with Benfica, and doesn't break its financial structure. Carreras, at last, returns to Santiago Bernabéu.