Xabi Alonso gushes over ‘complete’ Real Madrid signing who Man United sold for £5m

Alvaro Carreras continues to make a mockery of Manchester United’s decision to sell him as he continues to hit the ground running at Real Madrid. The 22-year-old has started all of Los Blancos’ seven matches in all competitions this season and played almost every minute thus far. Mbappe and Carreras have been ever-present for Real Madrid under Xabi AlonsoGetty He is already considered one of three exceptions to Xabi Alonso’s rotation policy, with Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouaméni. It marks a stunning turnaround from the events which saw Carreras leave the Bernabeu to join Man United in July 2020. The Red Devils pulled off a major coup to land the left-back, but he did not make a single first-team appearance in four years at the club. Why did Man United sell Carreras? The former Spain Under-21 international arrived at Old Trafford as a 17-year-old and quickly became a star in their youth ranks. Carreras, then known as Alvaro Fernandez, appeared to be on the cusp of a senior breakthrough at the end of the 2021/22 season. The defender was named in the matchday squad for Man United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea in April 2022 under interim manager Ralf Rangnick. A month later, Carreras won the club’s Under-23s Player of the Year award, before thriving on loan at Preston North End in the following season. However, bizarrely, the Spaniard was never given any opportunity to impress under Erik ten Hag despite a left-back crisis in 2023. Carreras was sent out on loan to Granada, with Ten Hag signing Sergio Reguilón, with both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia out injured. The left-back was part of the same youth side as Alejandro GarnachoGetty He trained with Cristiano Ronaldo at Man United, but never played a gameGetty Carreras: ‘Erik ten Hag didn’t count on me’ Reguilón made 12 appearances in all competitions before United activated a break clause in his deal to send him back to Tottenham. In the absence of any recognised left-backs, Ten Hag deployed Victor Lindelof and midfielder Sofyan Amrabat as emergency cover. Carreras stated that the Dutch boss ‘did not count on me’, but claimed that his main objective was to earn a place at United. He told 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.” Carreras impressed on several loans without getting a chance under Ten HagGetty Man United did indeed terminate Carreras’ loan in January 2024, but only to send him on loan to Benfica for the rest of the season. The Portuguese side made the move permanent for a reported £5m that May, with Madrid shelling out £43m to re-sign him a year later. Why Ten Hag didn’t rate Carreras United netted an additional £8m in the Madrid transfer due to a sell-on clause inserted in their initial agreement with Benfica. However, such a fee is a drop in the ocean compared to what Carreras is now worth, following his starring role in the Spanish capital. According to the BBC, former United boss Ten Hag felt Carreras was not quick enough for the Premier League and suited a back-three. To add insult to injury, that formation is the exact one the 55-year-old’s successor at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim, now uses at the club. Real Madrid returned for Carreras after his impressive stint at BenficaGetty The defender made 68 appearances for Benfica and scored five goalsGetty Xabi Alonso hugely impressed by Carreras Ten Hag’s sentiments are not ones shared by new Real Madrid manager Alonso, who has already become a huge fan of Carreras. The latter has played the full 90 minutes in each of the six matches in LaLiga and the Champions League, in which he started at left-back in a back-four defensive system. Carreras showcased his versatility in a 4-1 win over Levante by playing nearly the entire match at centre-back to continue his perfect start. Alonso heaped praise on him this week, saying: “I was optimistic because I’d been following him for a while, but his personality and competitiveness have pleasantly surprised me. Carreras has quickly established himself as a key figure in the Alonso eraGetty “He makes very few mistakes, is very focused, and has great technical and tactical quality. He’s very complete. “The instant impact he’s had is surprising. “We also have Fran Garcia, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy who can play in that position, but his performances have been excellent so far.”

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Xabi Alonso gushes over ‘complete’ Real Madrid signing who Man United sold for £5m

Alvaro Carreras continues to make a mockery of Manchester United’s decision to sell him as he continues to hit the ground running at Real Madrid.

The 22-year-old has started all of Los Blancos’ seven matches in all competitions this season and played almost every minute thus far.

Mbappe and Carreras have been ever-present for Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso

He is already considered one of three exceptions to Xabi Alonso’s rotation policy, with Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouaméni.

It marks a stunning turnaround from the events which saw Carreras leave the Bernabeu to join Man United in July 2020.

The Red Devils pulled off a major coup to land the left-back, but he did not make a single first-team appearance in four years at the club.

Why did Man United sell Carreras?

The former Spain Under-21 international arrived at Old Trafford as a 17-year-old and quickly became a star in their youth ranks.

Carreras, then known as Alvaro Fernandez, appeared to be on the cusp of a senior breakthrough at the end of the 2021/22 season.

The defender was named in the matchday squad for Man United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea in April 2022 under interim manager Ralf Rangnick.

A month later, Carreras won the club’s Under-23s Player of the Year award, before thriving on loan at Preston North End in the following season.

However, bizarrely, the Spaniard was never given any opportunity to impress under Erik ten Hag despite a left-back crisis in 2023.

Carreras was sent out on loan to Granada, with Ten Hag signing Sergio Reguilón, with both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia out injured.

The left-back was part of the same youth side as Alejandro Garnacho

He trained with Cristiano Ronaldo at Man United, but never played a game

Carreras: ‘Erik ten Hag didn’t count on me’

Reguilón made 12 appearances in all competitions before United activated a break clause in his deal to send him back to Tottenham.

In the absence of any recognised left-backs, Ten Hag deployed Victor Lindelof and midfielder Sofyan Amrabat as emergency cover.

Carreras stated that the Dutch boss ‘did not count on me’, but claimed that his main objective was to earn a place at United.

He told 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.”

Carreras impressed on several loans without getting a chance under Ten Hag

Man United did indeed terminate Carreras’ loan in January 2024, but only to send him on loan to Benfica for the rest of the season.

The Portuguese side made the move permanent for a reported £5m that May, with Madrid shelling out £43m to re-sign him a year later.

Why Ten Hag didn’t rate Carreras

United netted an additional £8m in the Madrid transfer due to a sell-on clause inserted in their initial agreement with Benfica.

However, such a fee is a drop in the ocean compared to what Carreras is now worth, following his starring role in the Spanish capital.

According to the BBC, former United boss Ten Hag felt Carreras was not quick enough for the Premier League and suited a back-three.

To add insult to injury, that formation is the exact one the 55-year-old’s successor at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim, now uses at the club.

Real Madrid returned for Carreras after his impressive stint at Benfica

The defender made 68 appearances for Benfica and scored five goals

Xabi Alonso hugely impressed by Carreras

Ten Hag’s sentiments are not ones shared by new Real Madrid manager Alonso, who has already become a huge fan of Carreras.

The latter has played the full 90 minutes in each of the six matches in LaLiga and the Champions League, in which he started at left-back in a back-four defensive system.

Carreras showcased his versatility in a 4-1 win over Levante by playing nearly the entire match at centre-back to continue his perfect start.

Alonso heaped praise on him this week, saying: “I was optimistic because I’d been following him for a while, but his personality and competitiveness have pleasantly surprised me.

Carreras has quickly established himself as a key figure in the Alonso era

“He makes very few mistakes, is very focused, and has great technical and tactical quality. He’s very complete.

“The instant impact he’s had is surprising.

“We also have Fran Garcia, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy who can play in that position, but his performances have been excellent so far.”