Preston North End have amassed an exceptionally healthy resumé of former loan players, aiding the development of quality players for years on end. In a recent move, partly resultant of their development, former Lilywhites fan favourite Álvaro Carreras (formerly Fernández), has sealed a blockbuster switch to Real Madrid.
From Lancashire To Los Blancos
The SL Benfica left-back began his professional career with Manchester United, where he failed to break into the first team permanently despite obvious promise. Los Blancos have now purchased the Spaniard for around £40 million as they look to rebuild under Bayer Leverkusen’s former league-winning coach, Xabi Alonso.
However, there is a more sentimental undertone to this move, with Carreras’ first experience of academy football being with Madrid, as well as Deportivo de la Coruña. Representation in the Spain under-21s side – with seven appearances in the UEFA under-21 Championship qualification stages – has paralleled an impressive and early club career rise to now become a Madrid signing.
Made In Preston
Carreras’ first glimpse of talent recognition came at Deepdale, with Preston adding the 22-year-old on a season-long loan in the 2022/23 season. The former United academy defender was electric down the left-hand side of North End’s lineup, offering six assists in all competitions as the Lilywhites finished 12th in the Championship. 42 appearances across this period solidified Carreras as one of the most gifted players to wear the PNE kit.
Despite this evident promise and attacking threat as a wing-back under Ryan Lowe, the Red Devils opted against handing the 22-year-old a chance in the United frame. Instead, the Premier League giants green-lit a half-season loan to Granada CF, where Carreras featured just 14 times. After being recalled in the January window, Benfica agreed a temporary deal until the end of the 2023/24 campaign before eventually offering the Spaniard a contract until 2029.
During his stay with the Portuguese outfit, Carreras appeared 52 times across domestic and European competitions, most notably in the UEFA Champions League. Two assists in ten UCL matches saw the former North End star achieve a settled role as the main left-back under Bruno Lage. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss has now decided to part ways with the defender, understanding the occasion of a transfer to such imperious giants in Madrid.
Proudly remembered as one of North End’s most impressive youngsters, the Preston fans will be overjoyed to hear the news of Carreras’ latest career move. In the 2022/23 season, the loanee contributed 1.73 successful dribbles per 90 – from left wing-back – which landed him in the 94th percentile of similar Championship players.
Writer’s View
Preston can seriously consider themselves as important contributors to Carreras’ early development. With United letting a golden prospect slip through their fingers, North End will be able to say they nurtured a star performer on his journey to signing for Real Madrid. Of course, the Lilywhites gain no monetary reward for this development, but it will no doubt emphasise their existing trust in dealing with young talent.
Carreras will inevitably kick on at Madrid, with license to roam forward in a similar role to Alejandro Grimaldo in the Leverkusen set-up. Fran García will provide competiton following his decent campaign in the FIFA Club World Cup, but Alonso will be hoping the former United graduate can link up with Trent Alexander-Arnold as the 43-year-old looks to recreate a carbon copy of Grimaldo and Jeremy Frimpong’s partnership.
