Controversial Man Utd and Real Madrid £29m transfer plan labelled ‘pure invention’

Manchester United can re-sign Alvaro Carreras for £17million rather than paying his £51m release clause which applies to other clubs, leading Real Madrid to come up with a workaround

A controversial transfer plan involving Manchester United and Real Madrid has been labelled ‘pure invention’ by the agent of Benfica star Alvaro Carreras. The left-back, 22, joined Benfica from United last year and has caught the eye of clubs across Europe thanks to his impressive performances.

When they agreed to sell Carreras for around £5million, United negotiated a buyback clause which is worth £17m. Benfica themselves moved to put a £51m release clause in the Spaniard’s contract.

Real are reluctant to pay such a high price in the summer transfer window, so have reportedly come up with a workaround. The Spanish giants, who Carreras spent three years with at youth level, are said to want United to activate their buyback clause and then immediately sell him to them for £29m.

That’d net United a cool £12m in profit which would improve their well-documented financial situation, with Ruben Amorim’s summer recruitment plans hinging on big-money sales. But Carreras’ agent, Gines Carvajal, has poured cold water on suggestiosn that Real and United could form the controversial agreement.

“I don’t know where this news comes from,” Carvajal is quoted as saying by Sport. “Everything being said is pure invention and doesn’t deserve any comment from me.”

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The agent went on to confirm that Carreras won’t be going anywhere this summer, adding: “Carreras is doing very well at Benfica and will continue there.”

In January, the 22-year-old affirmed that he was ‘happy’ playing for the Portuguese giants, who are battling city rivals Sporting Lisbon for both the league and cup with just a few games to go.

“I have a contract for many years here at Benfica, I’m happy,” Carreras declared via Record. “They gave me the opportunity to grow, and I owe everything to them.”

Should Manchester United buy Alvaro Carreras back? Have your say in the comments section.

Having left Madrid in 2020, Carreras never made a first-team appearance for United. He was loaned out to Preston North End, Granada and then Benfica, who signed him permanently in January 2024.

United are well-stocked at left-back as things stand. The Red Devils signed Patrick Dorgu for £25m in January and have Luke Shaw back from injury.

Tyrell Malacia is also due back from his loan spell with PSV Eindhoven unless the Dutch heavyweights sign him permanently. And finally, academy product Harry Amass made his Premier League debut in March and appears to be highly rated by United boss Amorim.

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