Xabi Alonso ‘Pleasantly Surprised’ by ‘Very Complete’ Alvaro Carreras After Bright Start to €50m Real Madrid Move

Real Madrid Boss Hails Alvaro Carreras as ‘Very Complete’ Following Summer Transfer, Admits He’s Been ‘Pleasantly Surprised’

When Real Madrid spend €50 million on a defender, expectations come heavy. The Santiago Bernabéu has never been a place for slow starts or tentative introductions. But in the case of Álvaro Carreras, the 22-year-old full-back brought back from Benfica, the early signs have been so emphatic that even Xabi Alonso admits he has been “pleasantly surprised.”

Carreras, a product of Madrid’s own academy before his Portuguese adventure, has returned not as a hopeful prospect but as a ready-made performer. Six matches into the season, he has not only held down the starting left-back position but finished every game without being substituted – an almost unheard-of feat for a new recruit in a backline under constant tactical demands.

Carreras Makes Brilliant Start to Real Madrid Career

It is one thing to be solid; it is another to look like you have been in the side for years. Carreras has managed both.

Signed from Benfica for €50m (£43m/$58m), he was expected to compete with Fran García and Ferland Mendy for minutes, perhaps needing months to adapt to Alonso’s rotations. Instead, he has been ever-present, playing every minute of the opening six fixtures.

On the defensive end, Carreras has shown positional awareness beyond his years. Quick to close spaces, confident in one-on-one duels, and reliable under pressure, he has given Madrid a stability on the left that they lacked during Mendy’s injury-plagued season. Offensively, he has been just as impressive, providing overlapping runs, stretching defences, and combining neatly with midfielders to give Madrid numerical superiority in wide areas.

The Bernabéu crowd, notoriously hard to please, has already warmed to him. Supporters have noticed not just his talent, but also the calm, understated way he carries himself.

Alonso Hails Carreras as ‘Very Complete’

Real Madrid CF v CA Osasuna – LaLiga EA Sports

For Alonso, who has only recently stepped into the Real Madrid dugout after his success at Bayer Leverkusen, Carreras’ maturity is priceless. Speaking after training on Monday, the coach could not hide his admiration.

“I was optimistic about his signing,” Alonso explained. “But his personality and competitive nature have pleasantly surprised me. He makes very few mistakes. He is focused, he has great mental quality, and both tactical and technical quality too. He is very complete.”

That phrase – “very complete” – captures why Carreras has slotted so seamlessly into a system that demands both defensive rigour and attacking bravery. Alonso added: “The instant impact he has had is surprising, it is fantastic news. We also have Fran and Ferland for that position, but his performance is excellent.”

When a coach who built his managerial reputation on detail, structure, and balance calls you “complete,” it carries weight.

From Benfica Back to Madrid

Carreras’ path to the Bernabéu was not straightforward. Once seen as another promising La Fábrica prospect, he left Spain to pursue first-team football in Portugal. At Benfica, he blossomed, adding defensive sharpness to his natural attacking instincts. The Portuguese club gave him the platform to mature, to play in Europe, and to develop the resilience that comes from competing in hostile away grounds week after week.

That €50m price tag reflects not only his ability but also Madrid’s recognition that they needed a left-back for the future. The gamble, if it can be called that, is already looking like shrewd business.

Madrid’s Undisputed First-Choice Left-Back

The biggest testament to Carreras’ impact is how quickly the pecking order has shifted.

Fran García, who had grown into a reliable starter during last year’s Club World Cup run, now finds himself back in rotation. Ferland Mendy, meanwhile, appears to have slipped further down the list, his fitness problems and inconsistency leaving him on the fringes. There was even talk over the summer that Mendy might move on, with interest from several Serie A clubs.

For now, Carreras is Alonso’s undisputed first choice. His fitness levels – completing all six matches without needing a substitution – suggest not only endurance but also the coach’s trust.

In a squad where rotation is usually king, that consistency is telling.

Alonso’s Philosophy and Carreras’ Fit

One of the fascinating aspects of Alonso’s early Madrid tenure has been how quickly he has imprinted his positional play philosophy. Much like his Leverkusen side, Madrid under Alonso are compact without the ball, disciplined in midfield, and expansive in attack.

For such a system, full-backs are crucial. They must know when to tuck in, when to overlap, and when to sit deep. They must be as comfortable in defensive duels as they are in transition. Carreras seems built for this.

The “pleasant surprise” Alonso speaks of is not just about talent; it is about intelligence. Carreras reads the game in a way that allows Madrid to shift seamlessly from defending to building play. That awareness cannot be taught overnight, and it is why he has walked straight into one of football’s most demanding starting elevens.

Madrid’s Next Test: Levante Away

The season is still young, but Madrid have begun in perfect fashion – six wins out of six. Their next challenge comes on Tuesday with a trip to Levante, a fixture that has historically been tricky. Alonso is expected to rotate in midfield and attack, but few expect Carreras to be left out.

The 22-year-old has earned his place, and right now, Madrid look stronger with him on the pitch than without him.

Why Carreras Matters in the Bigger Picture

Real Madrid CF v RCD Mallorca – LaLiga EA Sports

Beyond his own performances, Carreras’ emergence says something bigger about Madrid. For years, Los Blancos relied on the stardust of galácticos. But the modern Madrid is increasingly about balance, structure, and squad depth.

In that sense, Carreras represents the perfect signing – young, hungry, technically gifted, but also tactically disciplined. He is not the flashy forward who sells shirts; he is the quietly effective defender who wins matches. And sometimes, those players are the most valuable of all.

Conclusion: A ‘Very Complete’ Future Ahead

It is early days, but already Xabi Alonso’s faith in Alvaro Carreras looks well placed. The €50m signing from Benfica has been not only dependable but exceptional, earning his manager’s praise as “very complete” and his teammates’ trust on the pitch.

Alonso admitted he was “pleasantly surprised,” but perhaps Madrid fans should not be. The evidence – from Benfica to the Bernabéu – suggests Carreras has always had the tools. Now, under Alonso’s guidance, he has the stage.

In a season where Madrid chase trophies on multiple fronts, having a left-back this reliable could prove decisive. And for Carreras himself, the climb is only beginning. From academy graduate to Benfica standout to Bernabéu starter, his story is a reminder: sometimes you have to leave home to be truly valued when you return.