Real Madrid are counting on รlvaro Carreras for next season, but Cucurella will start as the first-choice goalkeeper.
Fabrizio Romanoย , the Italian journalist who broke the exclusive story ofย Marc Cucurellaย ‘s signing for Real Madrid, among other things, has revealedย the club’s plans for รlvaro Carrerasย . The Galician full-back, who arrived at the Bernabรฉu last summer from Benfica, will be Cucurella’s backup. The club believes he can provide good competition for the former Chelsea player, and considering they paid โฌ60 million for him less than a year ago, they don’t want to let him go so easily.
The ball is in Carreras’ court, as his decision determines whether or not Real Madrid puts him on the market . Mourinho has already explained the situation to him, as Defensa Central has confirmed: if he accepts being Cucurella’s backup and competing for a starting position in the medium term, he will stay; if he wants to be the starter from the start, he will be transferred. In any case, the club’s initial plan is for Fran Garcรญa to leave the Bernabรฉu, while they wait to make a decision regarding Mendy.
รlvaro Carreras, a decline at Real Madrid
รlvaro Carreras arrived at Real Madrid last summer for โฌ60 million from Benfica. Real Madrid signed him after a great season in Portuguese football and at the express request of Xabi Alonso . However, things didn’t go as planned. Although he started the season well, his form gradually declined, and he lost his starting position. With Xabi’s departure, he also clashed with the manager, รlvaro Arbeloa.
The reports Arbeloa has given Mourinho about Carreras are far from positive.ย They describe him as a difficult player in the locker room. However, Mourinho sees it as a challenge because he knows the club needs to keep the Ferrol native. A transfer now would almost certainly mean losing money, and this is something Florentino wants to avoid at all costs. Even if it’s as a substitute, Carreras should remain in the squad until his transfer fee is recouped.
Marc Cucurella will be Real Madrid’s starting left-back, but Mourinho believes in meritocracy and if he considers Carreras ahead of the Catalan, he won’t hesitate to start him. That’s how he’s always done it throughout his career: fielding the best player regardless of who it is.
Mourinho prefers to sell Carreras if he doesn’t accept being a substitute.
Considering that Mourinho was the one who dared to bench Pepe, Casillas, and Marcelo, it’s clear he doesn’t hesitate to make tough decisions. Despite this, the Mourinho who returns to Real Madrid 13 years later is much more conciliatory and eager for this period to be positive and long-lasting. This means avoiding problems in the dressing room from the start. If Carreras embraces his new role, perfect. If not, Mourinho prefers a transfer, even if the club loses money.
Following the signing of Cucurella, there was speculation about Carreras potentially being sold to Chelsea, and this hasn’t been completely ruled out. However, at this point, it seems most likely that the Galician player will stay, but in a secondary role next season.
