Alvaro Carreras sent a slight dig at Manchester United and the lack of opportunities he received under Erik ten Hag after signing for Real Madrid.
Manchester United’s youth strategy has improved in recent years, with Ruben Amorim promoting talents like Chido Obi and Harry Amass to the first team over the last year.
However, the club clearly made a major misstep with Alvaro Carreras, who joined Real Madrid this week in a £43 million deal from Benfica.
Carreras arrived at United in 2020 and his development was clear, earning the Under-21s Player of the Season award in 2021/22 before thriving on loan at Preston North End in the following campaign.
Despite a left-back crisis in 2023, Erik ten Hag chose not to use the Spaniard, sending him on loan to Granada and bringing in Sergio Reguilón as a temporary replacement on loan instead.
He later joined Benfica, who activated a £5 million buy clause after a strong loan spell. Now, after a standout season in Portugal, Carreras has returned to Spain with a big move to Madrid.
Carreras sends United ‘opportunity’ dig
Carreras, 22, wanted to push forward and play for United’s first-team but Ten Hag did not trust him, and that clearly hurt the young defender. He previously stated that the Dutch boss ‘did not count on me’.
After being unveiled as a new Madrid signing on Tuesday afternoon, the ex-United defender made his feelings clear about how he was treated through his praise of Benfica.
Several times during the press conference, Carreras pointed out how grateful he was to the Portuguese club for giving him an opportunity; one that he didn’t get in Manchester.
“When I signed with Benfica, it was for several years, and I was comfortable there,” he explained. “I had to respect the club that gave me everything, and I’m forever grateful to them for the opportunity.”
Later on in the press conference, Madrid’s new no.18 added: “As I’ve said, they [Benfica] gave me an opportunity. All my teammates, the fans — everyone treated me very well.
“I have no complaints. I’ve left behind a lot of good friends there. But life goes on, and you have to make decisions. Today is the happiest day of my life. I’m fully focused and ready.”
Carreras’ frustration with United situation is understandable
There was no mention of Manchester United from Carreras and no one can blame him. He didn’t even get the opportunity at Old Trafford despite the circumstances being perfect for it.
Signing the backup left-back from Tottenham Hotspur on a loan deal rather than giving one of the best performing Academy talents raised eyebrows at the time.
The main response to those questioning the decision was bringing up the fact that Carreras was playing in Portugal. But now he’s back at Real Madrid.
Selling Academy talents is something that will always happen. Most of the young players working at Carrington won’t come through into the first-team.
But when someone proves themselves over multiple years and does not even get the chance to play a single game despite there being no other actual options, you can understand their frustration.
Carreras has clearly taken that as fuel and proven Ten Hag wrong.
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