In a move that has rewritten the record books for Portuguese football, Spanish defender Álvaro Carreras has transferred from Benfica to Real Madrid for a reported fee of €50 million. This significant sum makes the 22-year-old the most expensive full-back ever to leave the Portuguese top flight, surpassing previous benchmarks set by talents like Pedro Porro and Nuno Mendes.
Carreras` journey to this record-breaking transfer is remarkably swift. He initially arrived at Benfica`s Estádio da Luz on loan from Manchester United in January 2024. His performances in the subsequent months clearly impressed the `Eagles`, as they opted to make the move permanent just six months later, signing him outright from the English club for a fee of €6 million. It seems Manchester United`s temporary loss was Benfica`s opportunity, and now, a highly profitable one at that.
Just a year and a half after first stepping onto Portuguese soil, Carreras` market value has evidently soared. His time at Benfica saw him feature in 68 matches, netting five goals. While his tenure was brief, his impact and potential were clearly enough to attract the attention of one of Europe`s premier clubs, willing to pay a premium price.
Setting a New Benchmark
The €50 million fee commanded by Benfica for Carreras eclipses the figures previously considered the highest for full-backs departing the Primeira Liga. The previous record holders, both leaving from Sporting CP, stood at €45 million:
- Pedro Porro: Moved to Tottenham Hotspur in January 2023. This transfer also involved an initial loan fee (€5 million) before the deal became permanent for €40 million.
- Nuno Mendes: Joined Paris Saint-Germain. His move mirrored Porro`s structure, starting with a €7 million loan fee in 2021/22 before PSG triggered a €38 million option in 2022/23.
Further down the historical list are notable transfers such as Nélson Semedo`s €30.5 million move from Benfica to FC Barcelona in 2017, and Fábio Coentrão`s transfer from Benfica to Real Madrid back in 2011 for €30 million. Carreras` fee significantly raises the bar for this position.
Portugal: A Full-Back Factory?
This latest mega-transfer solidifies Portugal`s reputation as a significant breeding ground and showcase for defensive talent, particularly in the full-back positions. Over the years, several high-value full-backs have emerged from the Primeira Liga, often making their way to top European leagues. Beyond the recent top three, transfers from FC Porto also feature prominently in the historical top 10 list:
- Alex Sandro (to Juventus, 2015): €26 million
- Diogo Dalot (to Manchester United, 2018): €22 million
- José Bosingwa (to Chelsea, 2008): €20.5 million
- Ricardo Pereira (to Leicester, 2018): €20 million
- Paulo Ferreira (to Chelsea, 2004): €20 million
Interestingly, the path to a big transfer varies greatly. Diogo Dalot, for instance, made just eight senior appearances for FC Porto before his move to Manchester United. In contrast, José Bosingwa played 152 games over five seasons for Porto before heading to Chelsea. Carreras` relatively short but impactful 1.5 years at Benfica demonstrates yet another trajectory to a major European destination and a historic valuation.
For Benfica, this represents another successful piece of business in their well-established model of acquiring and developing talent before selling them on for substantial profit. For Real Madrid, it`s a significant investment in a young defender who has rapidly proven his worth in a demanding league. The football world will now watch to see if Carreras can live up to his record-breaking price tag at the Santiago Bernabéu.
