Liverpool’s transfer intentions may be derailed by a covert provision Manchester United added to a deal involving Alvaro Fernandez Carreras, a star player for Benfica. Liverpool was connected to numerous players during the summer transfer window, but they were only able to add one. Federico Chiesa, an Italian winger, signed a £12.5 million deal to join Liverpool from Juventus. Giorgi Mamardashvili, the custodian for Valencia, has also agreed to join the Reds; he will arrive at Anfield in the summer. Liverpool is reportedly interested in signing Benfica full-back Carreras, who relocated from United to Portugal at the beginning of the season. This transfer window opens in January. Liverpool’s hopes of bringing the 21-year-old to Merseyside, however, may be dashed by a repurchase clause that United included into the agreement allowing Carreras to join Benfica this summer.
Sport Witness has obtained information from Portuguese news source Record stating that Carreras has a £16.7 million buyback option with United. Therefore, should they want to do so, United may find themselves in a strong position to re-sign the defender. The Premier League, as well as La Liga powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid, have expressed interest in the young Spaniard who has made nine appearances for Benfica thus far in the 24/25 season. In 2023, Carreras discussed relocating to Manchester with The Athletic. “I left Madrid when I was a kid,” he stated. I had a contract on the table, but I made the decision not to extend it and to travel to Manchester alone, apart from my family, and into a new and unfamiliar culture. We were under lockdown at the time (as the Covid-19 pandemic continued). I didn’t know any English, so when we had a video conversation with the Manchester United executives and scouts who are in Spain, they translated for me.
“I saw that I wanted to take the next step, and I wasn’t going to do it in Madrid,” he continued. Among them were fellow Spanish speaker Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani, and David de Gea, who gave me a lot of encouragement, support, and guidance. Regarding it, I have no issues. Maybe it’s more segregated in Madrid.”
