Real Madrid Turns Down Chelsea and Man United as They Lock In Their Left-Back Plan

Real Madrid has made its call on Alvaro Carreras. He’s staying.

The 23-year-old left-back will stay in Madrid as the backup to new signing Marc Cucurella, ending any chance of a move to the Premier League. Both Manchester United and Chelsea had been circling, but Madrid decided they’d rather hold onto the depth.

It’s a shift from a few weeks ago, when it looked like Carreras might be the odd man out. The arrival of Cucurella from Chelsea for around £52 million made him the clear starter under Jose Mourinho. That left Carreras, who cost Madrid €50 million from Benfica just last summer, in an awkward spot. Too expensive to be a backup, maybe. But Madrid sees it differently now.

Chelsea’s Interest Made Sense. United’s? Not So Much.

Chelsea’s interest was the more logical one. Manager Xabi Alonso coached Carreras during his first stint at Madrid and wanted a reunion. The Blues just lost Cucurella to Madrid, so Carreras would have filled that hole. But according to Fabrizio Romano, Madrid never seriously entertained a bid. No formal offer ever came from either club, though the interest was real. Chelsea has since moved on to Rayo Vallecano’s Pep Chavarria instead.

United’s pursuit always felt a little half-hearted. They’ve got bigger needs right now — central midfield and a winger are the priorities, not left-back. So don’t expect them to circle back unless something changes dramatically.

Depth Wins Out Over Cash

What changed Madrid’s mind? Partly it was injury. Ferland Mendy is still sidelined recovering, and that made keeping Carreras feel less like a luxury and more like a necessity. You can’t go into a season with just one healthy left back if you’re Real Madrid. The third option, Fran Garcia, is on his way to Real Betis in a permanent deal, so that door is closing.

For Carreras, it means a different kind of season than last year. He was a regular in 2025-26, starting consistently. Now he’s the understudy to one of Spain’s best full-backs. He’ll fight for minutes. Whether that’s enough to keep him happy long-term is a question for later. For now, Madrid is betting that having two quality left backs is better than banking another transfer fee.

Carreras will have to earn his time on the pitch. But he’s still at Real Madrid. That counts for something.