Negotiations between Real Madrid and Benfica over Álvaro Carreras have resumed, with a full agreement already in place between the player and Madrid. While Benfica’s approval is still pending, both sides are moving closer to a deal that could see the left-back return to the Bernabéu.
Caution remains the prevailing tone in Madrid as the saga surrounding Álvaro Carreras’s potential return to Real Madrid takes another step forward.
While progress has been made in recent days, those involved are urging restraint and patience not out of pessimism, but due to the delicate nature of ongoing negotiations with Benfica. After weeks of silence and standstill, talks between the two clubs have officially resumed, offering fresh hope that a deal for the Spanish left-back can finally be completed ahead of the new season.
Carreras, who began his development at Real Madrid’s academy before spells at Manchester United and Benfica, has been identified by the club as a key reinforcement for the left-back position in the coming campaign. With Fran García still inconsistent and Ferland Mendy facing questions about his long-term role, the Madrid hierarchy views Carreras as a natural fit technically sound, tactically disciplined, and already familiar with the club’s identity. Internally, he’s seen as a player capable of not just rotating in the squad but growing into a long-term solution.
From the outset, Real Madrid made clear their intention to re-sign Carreras, and the player himself has shown strong interest in returning to the Spanish capital. In fact, according to sources close to the negotiations, an agreement between Carreras and Real Madrid is already fully in place. The financial terms, contract length, and sporting role have all been agreed upon. The only missing piece is the final green light from Benfica a green light that, so far, remains elusive.
Talks between club presidents Rui Costa and Florentino Pérez have resumed following a breakdown in communication nearly a month ago. That earlier collapse came at a critical moment, when Carreras had been identified as a potential inclusion in Madrid’s Club World Cup squad. However, Benfica’s refusal to release the player despite a formal request from Carreras himself brought negotiations to a halt. The Portuguese club’s hardline stance frustrated those in Madrid, and the player was left watching from the sidelines as his teammates lifted yet another international title.
That decision has had lingering consequences. Real Madrid saw it not only as a lack of goodwill but as a potential strategic mistake from Benfica one that echoed a similar case involving António Silva last season. Back then, Silva attracted interest from top clubs across Europe, with offers reaching €60 million. Benfica declined to sell, expecting his value to rise. A year later, with form dipping and market conditions shifting, current offers for Silva reportedly don’t even reach €30 million. That example has not gone unnoticed in Madrid, and sources say it has been directly referenced in recent conversations with Benfica’s leadership.
Complicating matters further is the internal uncertainty surrounding Rui Costa’s own position at the helm of the Lisbon club. The former Portuguese international is believed to be weighing up his future, amid growing pressure from supporters and the board over the club’s sporting direction. That uncertainty has had ripple effects on the Carreras talks. What began as a promising negotiation turned into a political chess match, with Rui Costa reportedly hesitant to authorize a sale that could be interpreted by fans as weakness or poor planning especially if the player thrives in Madrid.
Still, there’s growing optimism that the gap between the two clubs is narrowing. Real Madrid, known for its pragmatic approach in negotiations, has shown flexibility in recent days. While they remain unwilling to overpay for a player they consider a former youth product, they have improved their initial offer and signaled willingness to structure the deal in a way that benefits both sides. This may include performance-based incentives or a future resale percentage a model that has proven successful in past operations with Portuguese clubs.
Carreras, for his part, is said to be fully committed to the move. Though under contract with Benfica, he has privately and publicly expressed his desire to return to Madrid a wish rooted not just in football, but in personal ties to the city and the club where his career began. He sees the transfer not as a step forward, but as a return to unfinished business.
Still, until Benfica gives their final approval, Carreras remains in limbo. For now, he continues to train with professionalism and patience, waiting for the call that will allow him to put pen to paper and wear the white shirt once again. Those close to the situation stress that nothing will be made official until the deal is sealed in writing, but there is quiet confidence that, barring another breakdown, Álvaro Carreras could soon become Real Madrid’s latest summer signing.
