How Much Better Can We Get? - The Transfers, Rumors & Lies Thread

🚨💣 BREAKING: Álvaro Carreras will tell Benfica after the Cup Final that he wants to JOIN Real Madrid. @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/mdkvIpFolo

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 19, 2025

BREAKING: Álvaro Carreras will tell Benfica after the Cup Final that he wants to JOIN Real Madrid.

🚨 JUST IN: Negotiations between Real Madrid and Benfica are set to advance after the Portuguese Cup Final for Álvaro Carreras. @FabrizioRomano ⏳⚪️ pic.twitter.com/P1lfRLGQo8

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 19, 2025

JUST IN: Negotiations between Real Madrid and Benfica are set to advance after the Portuguese Cup Final for Álvaro Carreras.

 

True. We'd be up to our old tricks if it wasn't for the CWC lol

 

Repped and agree with all of this, but I think Kerkez' dynamism and engine give him a slight advantage over Carreras, who has a slightly better cross / pass on him than Kerkez.

Either way, Carreras is an upgrade over both Mendy and Fran, and a 6 foot 1 inch, he can also play as a LCB according to some sources?!?!

 

Is Isco the only successful Spanish prodigy signing in his 2nd term? I hope our signings this summer change that record.

Xabi was already world class at Liverpool. Illara, Odri, Vallejo, Ceballos flops. Asensio can be considered a success as he cost only 2-3 ME from Mallorca.

 

Did Carreras really only play 1574 minutes?

 

I also noticed that, was he injured?

The metrics do match the eye test on the few games I saw of each player.

 

From whoscored, seems like he's got 3600 minutes, 2700 in the Portuguese league and 900 in UCL. Seems like he was a regular starter with Benfica.

 

I honestly don't want to continue this but you can't say first "he doesn't fit the system" as an argument against signing a player, then backpedal to "we don't know the system" for the same argument, and then also to first accept that hes a top 5 LB but claim that its irrelevant, and then to say right after that "its subjective, he might not be".

Again we know that its practically impossible to provide a list in which you honestly and rationally claim that Theo is not a top 5 LB otherwise people would have done it already. The subjective argument can be applied to any player in any comparison, but there are some things we should be able to objectively agree upon. Theo is basically a white Alphonso Davies and his price is way under his market value. Im not even a fan of the guy, but it just seems so obvious. But top 5 means literally cream of the crop.

So you can say its subjective that Theo is a top 5 LB, but its not subjective at all to claim Carreras is not a top 5 LB. Either way if Xabi wants Carreras and only Carreras, its a weird acquisition to waste your wishlist quota on given that you won't get your way very often at this club.

 

its seems the club want Nico Paz back,i like him and i was in favour of getting him back but after seeing Stiller ,he is the midfielder this team needs,Paz is way too attacking and similar to other players in the squad

i mean its better than nothing ,the midfield need something new but men Stiller looks good....

 

🚨🗞 @diarioas new cover:

• Luka Modrić is closer to continue!

• Xabi Alonso welcomes his renewal after his great end of the season.

• He will have to accept a secondary role and another pay cut. pic.twitter.com/Evw6iwpmHp

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) May 19, 2025

@diarioas new cover:

• Luka Modrić is closer to continue!

• Xabi Alonso welcomes his renewal after his great end of the season.

• He will have to accept a secondary role and another pay cut.

🚨 NEW: Thibaut Courtois, under contract until 2026, could extend his deal by two more years with Real Madrid. @miguelitocope pic.twitter.com/iYuNZ70K1Y

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) May 19, 2025

Thibaut Courtois, under contract until 2026, could extend his deal by two more years with Real Madrid. @miguelitocope

 

Real Madrid will meet with Nico Paz’s agents THIS WEEK! @miguelitocope

🚨BREAKING: Real Madrid will meet with Nico Paz’s agents THIS WEEK! @miguelitocope pic.twitter.com/hfnM3OvL8d

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 19, 2025

 

How does he even fit if Modric is coming back?

Seriously, people love to shit on the managers but it's JAS and Florentino who need to most criticism.

 

Id bet there will be a couple of players sold this summer to make room, but still makes no sense to renew Modric. This is purely doing him a solid for his years of service.

 

Modric turns 40 this September. He played 2500+ minutes this season. Ceballos never stays healthy in a full season. Camavinga has been having multiple injuries per season as well.

Arda likely will have a bigger role.I reckon Paz could be the midfield signing if he comes back. Summer window could be TAA, Huijsen, Carreras and Paz with Rodrygo staying?

 

Reports saying Xabi wasn't the one requesting Modric renew while others say he was.

Could be the club wants to do him a solid and renew for World Cup prep or Xabi really sees something in his play that he wants to utilize.

I think the Nico move should be discussed with Xabi because unless we're selling some bigger name midfielders, this move can stagnate Nico.

 

But counting on Modric at 40 to play important minutes and injury prone Ceballos in another long season sounds too risky.

Cama missed 56 days in 2023-24 and 108 days in 2024-25.

 

🚨 Benfica are insisting on €50m for Alvaro Carreras, but Real Madrid will try to lower it. @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/ckfH18NJns

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 20, 2025

Benfica are insisting on €50m for Alvaro Carreras, but Real Madrid will try to lower it. @FabrizioRomano

🚨 JUST IN: Alvaro Carreras has ACCEPTED Real Madrid as his next destination. @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/oCzp8eZrER

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 20, 2025

🚨 Real Madrid have NOT made a bid for Alvaro Carreras yet.

The club will approach Benfica after the Taça de Portugal final. @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/U1mf4ofz9Z

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 20, 2025

🚨 Alvaro Carreras and Real Madrid have an AGREEMENT.

Deal yet to be finalized with Benfica. @MatteMoretto pic.twitter.com/h9KoPOYZvL

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 20, 2025

🚨 Alvaro Carreras is Real Madrid’s number one option.

All other options are on HOLD. @MatteMoretto pic.twitter.com/DV1mE5IKeE

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 20, 2025

 

I can't see Nico Paz agreeing to a move back to Real Madrid, as long as there is no clear path to a starting spot. He seems to be managing his career in a way that prioritizes playing time, making a move back to Real Madrid highly unlikely. In addition, if you look at our squad, we have Jude, Arda and Brahim that can fill a similar midfield spot. Unless I'm missing something, I don't see a significant benefit for Paz to come back.

I do like him a lot and I remember Kroos and Modric speaking very highly of him.

 

Nico should develop a bit more before coming back, we need a masetro in MF not an AM currently.

We have 3 AM's more or less.

Jude, Arda, Brahim.

 

Seems very unlikely. Even if the club decides to sell Ceballos and move on from Brahim. Still feels like Paz would opt for an opportunity to play significant minutes over fighting for a starting role.

 

🚨 BREAKING: Xabi Alonso wants Real Madrid to sign Florian Wirtz. @RadioMARCA pic.twitter.com/zGFWJU7ccb

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) May 20, 2025

Here we go…

 

Crap source saying a bunch of things.

🚨 JUST IN: Xabi Alonso wants to bring Nico Paz BACK to Real Madrid. @RadioMARCA pic.twitter.com/8VrgVStD6i

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) May 20, 2025

 

Real Madrid want Nico Paz back for FIFA Club World Cup, they will talk to him this week.

The club have an option to SIGN him back for €8 Million. @COPE

🚨NEW: Real Madrid want Nico Paz back for FIFA Club World Cup, they will talk to him this week.

The club have an option to SIGN him back for €8 Million. @COPE pic.twitter.com/AoSox8Sa0g

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 20, 2025