Man Utd hold £25m advantage in Real Madrid transfer battle as target speaks out

Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona person each been linked with signing left-back Alvaro Carreras from Benfica, who'd request a sizeable interest to merchantability him successful the January transportation window

Benfica person told Real Madrid to stump up much than £40million to motion highly-rated left-back Alvaro Carreras - but Manchester United tin motion him for little than fractional that.

Carreras, 21, joined Benfica for a specified £5m past summer, having spent the 2nd fractional of the 2023-24 play determination connected loan. The Spaniard, who United picked up from Madrid successful 2017, ne'er made his elder debut for the Red Devils, who besides loaned him retired to Preston North End and Granada.

Now a regular starter for Benfica, making 30 appearances already this season, Carreras' services are successful demand. The Spain under-21 planetary registered his 3rd assistance of the play connected Tuesday arsenic Benfica suffered a melodramatic 5-4 loss astatine location to Barcelona successful the Champions League.

Carreras has besides scored 3 goals for the Portuguese giants this term, flourishing nether ex-Wolves brag Bruno Lage. His signifier has sparked speculation of a January transfer but Benfica won't fto him spell connected the cheap.

Spanish outlet Diario AS study that Benfica chiefs person acceptable their asking terms for different clubs astatine €50m (£42m). United, though, person a buyback adjacent for overmuch cheaper - €20m (£17m).

United manager Ruben Amorim's hunt for a left-back has led them to marque a bid for Lecce's Patrick Dorgu, though the Red Devils' connection has since been rejected. United could present crook to Carreras, who was fto spell by predecessor Erik 10 Hag.

Barcelona person besides been linked with the 21-year-old, who isn't successful a unreserved to permission Benfica, wherever he's nether declaration until 2029. Asked if he's thought astir leaving earlier deadline day, Carreras told DAZN Portugal, via Record: "No.

Should Manchester United effort to re-sign Alvaro Carreras? Have your accidental successful the comments section.

"Actually, you ne'er know, but I person a declaration for galore years present astatine Benfica, I'm happy. They gave maine the accidental to grow, and I beryllium everything to them."

Former Red Devils brag Ten Hag confirmed successful October that the nine would proceed to way Carreras' progress, saying: "I deliberation the process is perfect. We indebtedness him to Preston, helium got back, past we indebtedness him to Granada, helium didn't play truthful overmuch there, and of people we, each the time, observed him and present we had the accidental to merchantability him.

"But we person a buyback [clause] truthful we person power of the situation, I deliberation that's what helium needed. From Preston, past spell to La Liga, spell to Portugal [with Benfica], each clip stepping up to a higher nine and a amended league. Now we person to spot and measure the concern if helium tin beryllium an enactment for us.

"But playing astatine Man United is not truthful easy, playing successful the Premier League for Manchester United is not truthful easy. You request experience, besides development. You get improvement from playing for amended clubs and successful amended leagues."

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