Real Madrid has solved one of the biggest problems it had been dragging for some time with the arrival of Álvaro Carreras. The young talent, who arrives from Benfica for €50 million, is already wearing Bernabéu's white. His signing responds to an urgent need: to strengthen the left side of the defense after a year with many ups and downs.
Neither Fran García nor Ferland Mendy convinced enough during last season, which forced important decisions to be made. The coaching staff demanded a new face that would offer guarantees and Álvaro Carreras has everything to do so. With his power, verticality, and tactical security, he is expected to bring balance and depth from day one.
A signing with direct consequences for Xabi's squad
At 22, Álvaro Carreras has shown maturity in all the competitions he has played and looks set to be a starter from the beginning. The first preseason tests have placed him ahead of his competitors and his adaptation is happening very quickly. Both Fran García and Mendy know that they will have to wait for their moment... or leave.
In Fran's case, there is a firm proposal from AC Milan that could facilitate his departure in the coming weeks. Mendy, meanwhile, has not yet received any offer, but the market remains open. What is clear is that with Álvaro Carreras, the outlook has become complicated for a fourth left-back who also desired his opportunity.
Miguel Gutiérrez heads to Atalanta after Álvaro Carreras's arrival
This is about Miguel Gutiérrez, whose future seemed to be linked to Bernabéu thanks to a buy-back option of less than €10 million. However, Álvaro Carreras's arrival changes everything and it seems that Madrid will not execute that clause. The bottleneck in that area of the field is evident and the footballer has chosen to seek new horizons.
Atalanta has shown very serious interest in signing him to strengthen its defensive line. According to the Italian press, there is already a formal offer to Girona to close the transfer. If everything goes as planned, Miguel Gutiérrez will head to Bergamo in the coming days.
Miguel Gutiérrez will have an opportunity away from Bernabéu
Although Real Madrid keeps some control over his career, everything suggests that it will not intervene to prevent his departure. With four options in the same position, it would not make sense to block his progression or limit his minutes. The technical management understands that it is better to let him grow elsewhere and keep a good relationship with his environment.
Thus, what was supposed to be a simple reinforcement in defense has triggered a chain reaction in sports planning. Álvaro Carreras has arrived to stay and that has pushed Miguel Gutiérrez to look to Italy as his new destination. Everything indicates that Serie A will be the stage where the young Madrid native can finally establish himself.