Álvaro Carreras is now officially a Real Madrid player. After weeks of negotiations, the player was presented this week amid great excitement. His arrival at the white team was necessary due to the problems the team has been experiencing on that wing with Mendy and Fran García. A signing that was largely motivated by Lemine Yamal, who was unable to get the better of the Galician full-back in his Champions League clash against Benfica.
Álvaro Carreras is now a Real Madrid player
Carreras was presented on Tuesday and was very excited about his signing, as playing for the best club in the world is a dream come true for him. “I want to thank Real Madrid for the trust they have placed in me to make my return to what was my home for three years possible. I left as a boy and I return as a man. I am really looking forward to wearing this shirt, I am proud to defend this badge for everything it represents. It is the best club in the world. I promise to give my all to the team to continue growing and winning titles together. Thank you very much and, Hala Madrid!” were his first words as a Real Madrid player.
How the full-back plays
The young Galician full-back is not well known to the general public who follow Real Madrid, but he is well known in Valdebebas, where he was between 2017 and 2020. Carreras is a left-back with a strong attacking instinct, which will be very useful if Xabi Alonso uses the same system as at Leverkusen. He is characterized by his physical strength, speed, and good eye for crosses.
Lamine Yamal, key to the signing
David Sánchez pointed out on Cadena COPE’s ‘El Partidazo’ that he has seen Álvaro Carreras on more than one occasion. “I’ve seen the games he’s played against Barça in the Champions League and Lamine Yamal hasn’t had such a hard time with any defender this season as he has with Álvaro Carreras,” said the commentator. “I think he’s the one who has best managed to shut down Lamine Yamal, but I’m talking about any competition: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League…”, he added, before confessing that “I don’t know how he played all season, but from what I’ve seen, I haven’t seen any defender this year shut down Lamine Yamal like Álvaro Carreras”. The pundit believes that seeing that performance was a clear reason for his signing by Real Madrid.
The player himself was asked about that game in his first press conference. “You can’t judge a season’s work based on one game. It’s true that I’ve been at a very good level in the Champions League, but I think I’ve been very good throughout the season and I promise I’ll be at a high level for the team of my dreams,” he said.
But what happened in that game? In the first leg of the round of 16 against Benfica, Flick had to substitute Lamine before the hour mark due to Carreras’ marking. In addition to putting in a great defensive performance that frustrated the youth player, he took advantage of the spaces left by Lamine in defense to move up the left wing, creating superiority in his area.