Premier League
Mourinho doubts €50m Carreras at Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho, gearing up for Real Madrid’s 2026‑27 campaign – his first spell since 2012‑13 – remains unconvinced by 23‑year‑old left‑back Alvaro Carreras, who arrived on a €50 million transfer from Benfica last summer, as Mourinho evaluates a squad that already includes four new signings.
Mourinho has agreed terms with club president Florentino Perez and added Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Bernardo Silva to the roster. These four arrivals form part of his effort to reshape the side ahead of the new season.
Mourinho expressed concerns about the left‑back position and indicated he is not a fan of Carreras’ profile. His dissatisfaction prompted the push to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea to strengthen that area.
Carreras returned to Real Madrid last summer on a €50 million deal from Benfica. After a promising start, his form dipped following the replacement of Xabi Alonso by Alvaro Arbeloa, leading to a benching for the final stretch of the 2025‑26 campaign.
Alvaro Alonso had previously viewed the left‑back role as a priority, with Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia as his options. Mendy has struggled with injuries over the past 24 months, while Garcia is not seen as possessing the required level, prompting plans to sell both this summer after Cucurella’s arrival.
Carreras has been linked with a move away, and Alonso is keen to reunite with him at Chelsea. Nevertheless, he is expected to remain at Real Madrid as the backup to Cucurella on the left side of defence.
Retaining Carreras this summer makes sense because Real Madrid cannot rely on Mendy or Garcia as backups. Given his €50 million valuation, the club may consider cashing in later if Mourinho continues to favour other options.