Juventus scouts were reportedly among those closely watching Benfica’s Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. Portuguese sources (via Calciomercato) suggest that the Italian giants have taken a keen interest in Benfica’s left-back, Alvaro Carreras.
Carreras, a 21-year-old Spaniard, was brought in by Benfica in the summer of 2023 to replace his compatriot Alejandro Grimaldo, who left for Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer. The young defender is a product of Real Madrid’s youth academy and had a stint with Manchester United before joining Benfica.
Hailing from Ferrol in Galicia, Carreras is currently part of Spain’s Under-21 setup. However, there are growing calls for his inclusion in the senior national team, despite competition from established players like Grimaldo, Cucurella, and Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez.
Carreras showcased his confidence before Benfica’s 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid, stating, “It’s good that our opponents are Spanish; we know what we need to do to beat them.” His performance in that match likely caught the eye of several scouts in attendance.
While Juventus is interested, they face stiff competition. Barcelona is reportedly keen on the player, and Real Madrid is considering him as an alternative to Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies. Additionally, Manchester United retained a buyback clause when they sold Carreras, following his loan spells at Preston North End and Granada.
Since joining Benfica in early 2023, Carreras has made 16 appearances in his first half-season, contributing a goal and an assist. In the current 2024/25 season, he has already featured in 9 matches, missing only the opening league game.
Juventus, who have had success with Portuguese league signings in the past (notably Alex Sandro from Porto in 2015), are keeping a close eye on Carreras’s development. The Bianconeri see him as a potential solution to strengthen their left-back position in the future.
