Real Madrid are on the verge of signing Spanish left-back Álvaro Fernández Carreras from Benfica in a deal that will also see 21-year-old Castilla defender Rafael Obrador head to Lisbon, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The agreement is expected to be finalised this week, with both moves registered as separate transfers.
Carreras, 22, has a $50 million release clause in his contract. Initially, Madrid were expected to trigger it – which would have handed Manchester United a 20%sell-on fee, as agreed when they sold the full-back to Benfica last summer.
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Instead, Madrid will pay a lower cash fee and allow Obrador to join Benfica, effectively reducing the headline price while complying with FIFA rules that part-exchange valuations must reflect fair market value.
Carreras left Old Trafford on loan in January 2024. He has helped Benfica in the Champions League knock-out rounds and triggered an obligation-to-buy clause after playing more than half the club’s matches.
Benfica completed the permanent deal last June for an initial $7.5m, which included United’s sell-on and a $16 million buy-back option valid until 2026.
Since arriving in Portugal, Carreras has impressed. He made 68 appearances across all competitions, scored 5 goals and 5 assists while clocking over 5,000 minutes of game time.
Known for his progressive passing and intelligent positioning, the Spanish defender offers both defensive stability and attacking intent.
Real Madrid have been in the market for a new left-back, with Ferland Mendy placed on the transfer list. Carreras has done enough to convince the club’s technical staff that he is the right fit.
Paperwork on both transfers is expected to be signed in the coming days. Once the fees are lodged with FIFA’s Transfer Matching System, Manchester United will learn exactly how much they will recoup from the Benfica-Madrid deal.
