Manchester United’s ruthless approach to offloading players hasn’t always yielded positive results in recent times.
In the summer alone, United parted ways with highly-rated talents like Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund after they fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim.
The club’s hierarchy seemingly showed blind faith in Erik ten Hag’s decision making as well on that front and sold youngsters like Anthony Elanga and Alvaro Carreras. Elanga recently earned a big-money move to Newcastle United after impressing at Nottingham Forest.
Carreras, meanwhile, returned to his boyhood club Real Madrid and is making waves with his flawless performances.
Erik ten Hag mismanaged Alvaro Carreras
United convinced the Spaniard to leave Madrid’s youth setup in favour of their academy in 2020 before sending him on loan to Preston North End to aid his development.
Carreras showed a lot of promise in the Championship but he failed to grab Ten Hag’s attention. Benfica took notice of his progress at Granada and signed him on loan in January.
Despite facing an injury crisis at left-back at the time, Ten Hag refused to hand the youngster a first-team opportunity. As such, United sanctioned a loan deal with an option to buy for €6 million, which Benfica triggered in the summer of 2024.
The Spain U21 international enjoyed a rapid rise in Portugal, and Benfica sold him to Los Blancos in a deal worth €50m after the Club World Cup. United, meanwhile, bagged around €9m due to a sell-on clause.
Real Madrid value Carreras at €80m
According to Defensa Central, Carreras’ performances in the Spanish capital have “astonished” figures at the club, so much so that the €50m investment is now seen as a bargain.
It is claimed that Real would not be willing to sell their latest recruit even for €75m, as they value him at least at €80m.
Under Xabi Alonso, the ex-United left-back has earned plaudits for his positional awareness, sharpness and resilient defending.
The 22-year-old has started all of Real’s first six matches in all competitions and is now viewed as an undisputed starter ahead of Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia.
Recently, The Peoples Person relayed a report suggesting the United hierarchy regret selling Carreras, whose start under Alonso has “generated great anger” at Old Trafford.
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Vishal Singh
Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!
