It started with weeks of quiet talks and then came the tension. One side wanted flexibility, the other demanded cash.
A deal that once looked difficult is now all but done.
Real Madrid have been working behind the scenes on a low-profile defensive signing.
The club knew the player wanted the move. The issue was never the will of the footballer, but how to make the deal work financially with the club.
For a while, the Portuguese club stood firm. They asked for full payment upfront.
Real Madrid, however, wanted to spread the fee over a few years.
Negotiations became strained, and it looked like the talks could break down.
But as is often the case in football, a compromise was finally found.
According to El Chiringuito, the Spanish club have now won the battle.
Benfica will accept Real Madrid’s terms.
The deal is ready and will be made official soon, most likely once the Portuguese side’s Club World Cup campaign is over.
The defender in question is not just any talent. He spent time in the Premier League before making a name for himself in Lisbon.
He has now agreed to a five-year contract with Real Madrid and will earn around €3.5 million net per season.
His recent dip in form is not by accident. The player has been extra cautious, not risking injury before his dream move becomes reality.
He knows that signing for the Spanish giants is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
That player is Alvaro Carreras, a former Manchester United full-back who rebuilt his career at Benfica.
And now, the Real Madrid academy product is coming home. His return to the Santiago Bernabeu is almost complete.
The club sees him as a long-term option for the left side of defence.
With the deal nearing completion, all that is left is the official statement. The countdown has begun and Alvaro Carreras is ready.
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