Real Madrid had gotten really close to securing Alvaro Carreras' transfer from Benfica to Real Madrid until now.
Los Blancos are in immediate need of a better left back who can suit Xabi Alonso's system, and Alvaro Carreras is the chosen one. Personal terms with the player are already agreed, but it is his current club, Benfica, who are delaying the last bits.
Benfica are known to be tough negotiators and are pressuring Real Madrid to pay Carreras' release clause of 50 million euros in full, while Los Blancos maintain the need to agree on a lower sum.
But this absurd tactic the Portuguese club has employed is wholly unprofessional. According to Marca, Benfica are now forcing Carreras to travel to the United States for the Club World Cup as their player, in a ploy to induce Real Madrid to give in and pay the amount Benfica want.
Alvaro Carreras is a priority but Real Madrid are not in a good position
Understand that Carreras' contract with Benfica runs till 2029, which puts them in a favorable position to negotiate with Madrid. They are determined to derive his release clause and won't accept a penny less.
On the other hand, Real Madrid's position is poor. The club has already spent heavily in the transfer window, paying a reported 10 million for Trent Alexander-Arnold and 50 million for Dean Huijsen. Additionally, a sizable sum must be saved in the purse for Franco Mastantuono who is closer than ever to join Madrid.
Carreras is the only target among the aforementioned three with whom Madrid can bargain, but Benfica's methods are making it extremely tough, and the effort to force the player to compete in the Club World Cup as their player has only exacerbated problems.
Real Madrid is a financially solid club with a large surplus to cover these expenses, but it should be noted that they are always frugal and prudent in their spending, which has maintained them in good standing since forever.
It remains to be seen what happens with the Carreras deal. Whether Real Madrid yield to Benfica's demands or employ a counter-tactic.