Manchester United are interested in re-signing Benfica left-back Alvaro Carreras, as new head coach Ruben Amorim looks to make a mark at Old Trafford.
Ruud van Nistelrooy signed off with a 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday before passing the reins over to Ruben Amorim, who has left Sporting CP to join the 20-time English champions. The Portuguese faces an uphill task to turn the club’s fortunes around and he will be making demands in the transfer market to reshape the squad.
According to a report from Portuguese outlet Record (h/t Marca), Manchester United can re-sign Alvaro Carreras from Benfica as they had inserted a buyback clause worth €20 million during his sale.
Carreras, 21, was farmed out on loan to Benfica by Man United in January 2024. The loan deal included an optional buy-clause, reported to be €6 million, which became mandatory if he started 50% of Benfica’s remaining games during the loan spell.
At the end of the 2023/24 season, Benfica announced that they had exercised the €6 million buy option in the young left-back’s contract, and subsequently, he signed a new deal at the Estadio do Benfica until 2029. The Spaniard has started the new season strongly, registering two goals and an assist in 11 league games as Benfica look to challenge for the title.
Alvaro Carreras to Man United—Should the club trigger the buy-back option?
Ruben Amorim is expected to implement a back-three system at Man United—a formation that has helped him taste rich success at clubs such as Casa Pia, SC Braga and Sporting CP. The issue, however, is that the 39-year-old is inheriting a squad primarily built for 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 systems which means, for now, he’ll have to find ways to accommodate the players in varied setups and find the right match.
But, come January, the Portuguese manager has to prioritise signing a left-footed full-back/wing-back. Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have not played a single minute so far this season. The duo have been on the sidelines for a very long time, especially Malacia, who made his return to action with the under-21s on Tuesday.
Thus, with the left wing-back position a glaring issue, the Red Devils must make a move for Alvaro Carreras when the transfer window reopens in January. The Madrid-born talent has established himself as one of the best young full-back prospects in the world since joining Benfica. He has shown his early promise in Portugal, catching the eye with his rampaging runs, crossing ability, energy and tenacious tackling.
Skilful, tenacious and enterprising, Carreras could thrive as a left wing-back in Amorim’s preferred back three system. The Spaniard is well-equipped for the physical challenge in the Premier League and could potentially replace the injury-prone Shaw in the long run. At 21, the Benfica man is still in the developmental phase of his career and a coach like Amorim would be the right person to unlock his true potential.
Without any second thoughts, Man United must trigger the buy-back clause in Alvaro Carreras’ contract in January. He’d be a smart buy for around €20 million, solving one of their squad’s gaping weaknesses.