From Portugal: United chiefs fly to watch £40m target deemed ‘perfect’ for Amorim’s system

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·25 gennaio 2025

From Portugal: United chiefs fly to watch £40m target deemed ‘perfect’ for Amorim’s system

Among Manchester United’s lengthy list of full-back targets is former Red Alvaro Carreras, who left the club last summer for Benfica.

The Spanish youth international had spent half a season on loan in Portugal after being recalled from his spell with Granada this time last year.

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United preferred to send him to gain experience with Benfica instead of the La Liga outfit and agreed a half-season loan with an option to buy – which would’ve become an obligation had he played 50 per cent of the side’s remaining matches. Carreras didn’t fulfil such terms, but Benfica chose to activate his £5 million clause anyway, sealing a permanent deal for the highly-rated 21-year-old.

At the time of Carreras being sent out on loan, United had no senior left-backs available in the squad, with Erik ten Hag choosing to utilise the likes of Diogo Dalot, Victor Lindelof and, at times, even Sofyan Amrabat as makeshifts in the position. The youngster then departed without making a first-team appearance.

United plot Carreras reunion after bizarre summer sale

Carreras has enjoyed a stellar start to life in Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)

Now ruing their decision to cut ties so prematurely, United have been monitoring Carreras’ progress over the last five months – so much so that they have reportedly sent club chiefs over to Rio Maior this weekend to watch him in action against Casa Pia, according to Record Portugal.

His scintillating start to life with the Eagles has led to him garnering widespread interest across Europe, with all of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Liverpool said to be avid admirers of Carreras.

United do, however, hold the upper hand in any potential pursuit of their ex-protegee; despite Benfica valuing him in the region of £40m, the Reds have a buy-back option worth just £16m if they want to bring him back to Manchester anytime soon.

After Ruben Amorim implemented his 3-4-3 system upon his November arrival, Carreras was deemed a ‘perfect’ fit for the new head coach due to the fact he ‘averaged 0.60 goal-creating action p90 over the last year’ (as of the end of October), putting him ‘in the top 1% of full-backs across Europe’s top six leagues’, per StatmanDave.