Álvaro Carreras is switching sides…

Real Madrid has signed the 22-year-old Spanish professional footballer, a Benfica left-back, the Spanish club announced on Monday.

Carreras spent three years at Real Madrid’s academy before moving to Manchester United in 2020.

The defender is Real Madrid’s latest defensive recruit — the club already confirmed the arrival of centre-back Dean Huijsen and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold — as they look to build a new-look back line ahead of this summer’s Club World Cup in which they lost in the semifinal to Paris Saint-Germain.

Madrid ended the season without a major trophy for the first time since 2021, after finishing as runners-up to Barcelona in LaLiga, losing the Copa del Rey final and being eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Carreras was Real Madrid’s preferred candidate to strengthen at left-back, where neither Ferland Mendy, who has frequently suffered from injuries, nor Fran García have convinced last season.

He was a teammate of another Real Madrid youngster, Raúl Asencio, in his time at the club’s academy, before opting to join Manchester United.

After four years in Manchester, including loans at Preston North End and Granada, he joined Benfica on an initial loan with an option to make the deal permanent.

The Spain under-21 international had an outstanding 2024-25 season, making 32 appearances in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, as well as playing 10 times in the Champions League.