This article was originally published on www.si.com as Alvaro Carreras: Why Real Madrid Paid €50 Million to Re-Sign a Player Who Left For Free. Five years later, Álvaro Carreras is back with Real Madrid.

Carreras has taken a winding route via Manchester United, the Championship and Benfica to get back to the Spanish capital

Real Madrid have presented new signing Alvaro Carreras to the press, after a lengthy transfer saga. Los Blancos announced the deal on Monday evening, with Benfica set to receive €50m in

Real Madrid has signed Álvaro Carreras from Benfica on a six-year deal. The 22-year-old left back previously played in Madrid's youth academy from 2017-20.

The Spain youth international has spent time at Manchester United, Preston North End, Grenada and Benfica since he was last at Madrid.

It was always clear that the defence would be Real Madrid’s biggest priority heading into the new season. Florentino Perez and Co., needless to say, have over-delivered on that front.After signing

Real Madrid have signed Spanish defender Alvaro Carreras from Benfica. The 22-year-old has joined the Spanish club in a deal which is reported to be worth £43m and has signed a six-year contract. Carreras was part of Real Madrid's youth set-up from 2017 to 2020 before joining Manchester United.

Real Madrid signed defender Alvaro Carreras from Benfica on a six-year deal, the Spanish giants said on Monday. "Real Madrid and Benfica have reached an agreement for the transfer of Alvaro Carreras,

Manchester United will pocket a significant bonus after Real Madrid completed the long-awaited €50 million (£42m/$57m) signing of Alvaro Carreras.

But listen to the way Xabi Alonso spoke about Alex Grimaldo throughout Bayer Leverkusen’s invincible title-winning season — when he provided 10 goals and 13 assists in the Bundesliga from his high-flying wing-back role — and it would be fair to assume that the Spaniard was top of the class.

Real Madrid have become increasingly unsure of their options at the back over the last six months, as evidenced by their €120m spending spree on the backline to bring in Dean Huijsen, Trent