Report – €8 million fee difference stalls Real Madrid move for top defensive target | OneFootball

The gap is €8 million – that is the key issue. According to AS, this is the difference separating Real Madrid from Benfica in the Alvaro Carreras deal.

The 22-year-old left-back has been identified as the top target for the position this summer.

Negotiations have been ongoing with Benfica as Real Madrid hope to re-sign their former academy ace in time for the FIFA Club World Cup later this month but a final agreement has not been reached yet.

A difference of €8 million

As per the report, Real Madrid have offered €40 million to sign Carreras, while Benfica have set the price at €48 million – just below the player’s €50 million release clause.

That fee would grant Carreras not only his move, but also the chance to play in the Club World Cup for Real Madrid. Notably, Benfica are also participants in the tournament – another detail why the operation, though nearly complete, is still not finalised.

Alvaro Carreras waiting for Real Madrid transfer to be finalised. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

As such, Real Madrid have picked up the pace in recent days, because time is running out. The emergency transfer window deadline – opened on 1 June to register new players for the Club World Cup – is 10 June.

There is optimism at the club ever since a personal agreement was reached with the player. After all, Carreras made it clear from the start that he wanted to return to Real Madrid.

The Merengues have been working to reduce the €50 million clause written into Carreras’ contract. So far, they have managed to reduce the full package (transfer plus Club World Cup-related bonus) to €48 million. It is a step forward, but not yet a done deal.

Amidst all this, Carreras remains committed and unaffected by the noise as the final sprint for his signing unfolds.