A 2-2 draw between Benfica and Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup was not the most interesting thing in Miami on the morning of June 17, at least for Real Madrid fans. The focus for them was on the name Alvaro Carreras - the left-back who is said to be the next transfer target of the Spanish Royal team.
And after 90 minutes of closely watching every step of this player, what remains is not conviction, but a collection of question marks.
A lackluster and overwhelming start
Carreras has now agreed personal terms with Real Madrid. But the biggest obstacle is Benfica - the club that is unwilling to let him go without collecting the €52 million release clause. Real are expected to complete the deal after the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™, but Carreras' performance against Boca Juniors will have many in Madrid reconsidering.
Carreras was placed in the starting lineup on the left wing, wearing a white shirt - quite coincidentally the traditional color of Real Madrid. This was a rare occasion for “Los Blancos” fans to witness this player playing in a top environment, against an opponent from South America with a lot of enthusiasm and fighting spirit. And Carreras did not leave a big enough impression.
Right from the first minutes, the 21-year-old defender showed his effort and initiative when moving continuously between the wing and the center. He actively demanded the ball, trying to create breakthroughs in one-on-one confrontations.
However, the handling often lacked the necessary precision and efficiency. Against a veteran like Advincula, Carreras was almost locked down, and his attempts to climb the sidelines often ended in stalemate.
Benfica were 2-0 down after less than 30 minutes, but fortunately for Carreras, he was not directly at fault for the two goals. However, on the other hand, his contribution to the attack was too lackluster compared to expectations.
In the phase leading to Di Maria's equalizer from the 11m mark, Carreras also did not have any clear mark, showing that he could not be a factor that could make a difference at key moments.
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In the 2-2 draw between Benfica and Boca, Alvaro Carreras did not show much. |
After the break, Benfica tried to push forward. But when Belotti was shown a straight red card in the 72nd minute, the prospect of a total defeat seemed imminent.
Surprisingly, Otamendi - who still owes a debt of gratitude to River Plate - unexpectedly equalized with a perfect header in the 83rd minute. And it was from here that Carreras began to have moments of brilliance.
In the last 10 minutes, he played with more confidence, handled the game more boldly and even almost scored the winning goal to make it 3-2 with a tricky dribble and a dangerous right-footed shot. That move, along with Figal's red card for Boca in the 88th minute, helped Benfica rise strongly.
But all that was not enough for Carreras to overshadow what he showed lacklusterly throughout most of the match.
52 million euros: an invitation or a scam?
Real Madrid are in a generational transition, and the left-back position is one that needs to be strengthened in the long term. Carreras, with his training background at Castilla and professional playing time in England and Portugal, has potential.
But potential doesn't equal immediate value. And after 90 minutes against Boca, it was hard to justify Carreras' transfer fee of €52 million - a huge sum for a player who has yet to define his role at the highest level.
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Will Real Madrid continue to pursue Carreras to the end? |
Bruno Lage - Benfica coach - once stated: "First there must be an agreement with Benfica, then Carreras can succeed anywhere". But the question is: can Carreras succeed at Real Madrid - where fierce competition and pressure always far exceed Benfica?
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™ is a showcase, but for big clubs it is also an opportunity to “test the waters” before making major investment decisions. In Carreras’ case, the performance against Boca could be seen as a “test” that he has yet to fully pass.
Ultimately, the final decision lies with president Florentino Perez. Will he continue to pursue Carreras to the end? Or will he wait for more clear, pragmatic performances, instead of betting on late moments of brilliance?
In a market where €52m can bring in a star of his calibre, Real Madrid need to think carefully. There is little room for error - especially at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Source: https://znews.vn/carreras-la-cu-lua-hay-mon-hoi-voi-real-madrid-post1561465.html
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