La Liga
Real Madrid continues to work on strengthening their left-back position and has made it clear that their choice is Álvaro Carreras. The young Spanish defender, who has shone at Benfica, is considered a safe bet by the white's sporting management. However, his signing won't be easy: the Portuguese club has set a starting clause of 50 million euros.
As reported by 'DefensaCentral', despite the high cost, Lisbon might be willing to soften their stance if Madrid agrees to include two players in the deal: Fran García and Dani Ceballos. This option doesn't convince either Florentino Pérez or Xabi Alonso at the moment, as Alonso is keen on giving Fran a chance next year. Concerning Ceballos, his preference is to return to Betis if he leaves the capital, making it even more complicated to use him as part of the exchange.
Real Madrid aims to lower Benfica's 50 million euro demand
The final of the Portuguese Cup, which Benfica plays today against Sporting, will initiate formal discussions. Starting tomorrow, Real Madrid will intensify negotiations to finalize Carreras' signing as soon as possible. While the 50 million figure remains on the table, strategies are being worked on at Valdebebas to soften the economic impact, such as installment payments or player inclusion.
Although Alonso doesn't plan to do without Fran or Ceballos, a lack of playing time could lead to an exit if both players don't receive assurances about their roles for the upcoming season. The outcome will depend largely on the pending conversation between the coach and the players. Meanwhile, Benfica awaits a tempting counteroffer from Madrid.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los dos jugadores que el Benfica le ha pedido al Real Madrid por Álvaro Carreras
