Alvaro Carreras Stats: Why Liverpool are considering former Man Utd trainee as Robertson successor

Manchester United's decision to let Alvaro Carreras join Benfica permanently for a modest fee of £5m appears to have been another short-sighted move by the Premier League giants. Especially now, with the young defender making a name for himself in the Primeira Liga. After joining Benfica on loan in January, a permanent move followed in the summer. Reports suggest that Liverpool, eyeing a successor for Andy Robertson, are now interested in Carreras. United, however, were savvy enough to include a buyback clause, though whether they will be smart enough to activate it remains to be seen. 

For all the value-for-money sales INEOS pulled off in their first transfer window, their purchases are looking increasingly questionable. While it's premature to label this regime as "Glazers 2.0," if the rumours of a buyback clause are true, any rational club would surely consider it, especially given the 21-year-old's current form. 

Alvaro Carreras Transfer Value - how much is he worth now? 

According to FootballTransfers' Player Valuation Model, Carreras currently has an estimated transfer value of €7.8m, up from around €4m when he joined Benfica in the summer. Having paid €6m for him, Benfica has already seen that value increase significantly in just a few months. Though Carreras is contracted until June 2029, his rapid rise suggests he may not stay at the club for long. 

What does Alvaro Carreras bring to the table? 

Recruited to United’s academy in 2020, the Spanish defender moved from Real Madrid during the height of the COVID pandemic. Adjusting to life in a new country, learning English, and navigating an unfamiliar culture in isolation were challenges that Carreras had to overcome earlier.  

He became a key player for the Red Devils' Under-23s squad, winning the U23 Player of the Year award in the 2021/22 season. His subsequent loan to Preston North End saw his development skyrocket, being named their Player of the Season for the 2022/23 season. 

However, despite injuries to both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, even last season, Carreras never got a real shot at United’s first team by Erik ten Hag, a man who, despite well-deserved criticism, has made a case for having a good track record where bringing through young talent is concerned. He was loaned to Benfica in January 2024, where the Portuguese side swiftly triggered a €6m buy option in the summer, ending his time at Old Trafford for good. 

Since his switch, Carreras has been a standout in Benfica's defence, most notably in their 4-0 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid earlier in the campaign. His performances have given United plenty to think about, especially as they face defensive crises of their own.  

With Luke Shaw perpetually injured, Tyrell Malacia absent for over a year, and the inexperienced Harry Amass recently promoted to the senior squad, United’s decision to part ways with Carreras looks increasingly questionable. 

If that wasn't reason enough, both Barcelona and Real Madrid are now reportedly monitoring Carreras' progress. If the buy-back clause of €20m is correct, United will need to act quickly to avoid losing him for a second time.  

Analytically, Carreras is delivering sensational numbers. Whether it's progressive passes (6.1) and shot-creating actions (3.4), or tackles (2.5) and aerial duels won (1.9), he is reaching above the 90th percentile compared to others in his position. Roger Schmidt isn't using him as a wing-back, either. These are numbers yielded from either playing as a left-back in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 system. 

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Speaking back in 2023 during a loan spell, Carreras spoke about his ambitions at United and the future in general. He said to The Athletic: “What message did United give me? That I should go out on loan, that Ten Hag didn’t count on me, that I should continue to gain experience, rhythm, and we’ll see what happens in the future. But it’s clear that football doesn’t end at any club and that you have to keep working. My main objective is to return to United and make a place for myself there. 

“I have two years left in Manchester and for now [...]. When I have to talk in the summer, or at Christmas, you never know… we'll see what happens. My objective is Manchester, of course, but it's such a crazy game that maybe next year I'll be in Germany or Italy or Spain. You never know.”

You just get the feeling that, as long as he is playing competitive football and getting regular minutes, Carreras won't mind which club plays football for. And with three senior left-backs at Old Trafford, it's a deal that seems improbable in the near future, at least.

This article was provided by FootballTransfers