Carreras gets emotional at his Real Madrid presentation: "Returning to what was once my home is a dream."

Wearing an elegant black suit and a broad smile, Álvaro Carreras posed this Tuesday alongside Florentino Pérez in Valdebebas, on his first day as a Real Madrid player . Accompanied by his family, the Galician footballer made his debut as a Real Madrid player at the Ciudad Deportiva, the same place where he began his youth development years ago.

The event began with a compilation of the full-back's plays, from his time with Real Madrid to the present. This was followed by a few brief remarks from the club's president, who highlighted Carreras' commitment to the club's crest and his development as a footballer after spells in England and Portugal. The 22-year-old left-back then addressed those present to give his first speech as a Real Madrid first-team player .

"Welcome to a home you know well. Today marks the return of one of our youth players, one of those who embraces the values that run through here. One of our own returns as one of the best defenders in European football," said Florentino Perez, after reviewing the player's career.

Carreras followed, visibly moved, and expressed his first words as a Real Madrid player: "First, I wanted to thank the president for his words and thank Real Madrid for the trust they have placed in me. I left as a boy and I'm coming back as a man. It's an honor to wear this shirt, that of the best club in the world. Hala Madrid!"

Later, before the media, the full-back discussed his feelings on his return home, his progress away from the club, and his desire to settle in Spain. He also spoke about Xabi Alonso, with whom he will share a dressing room for the first time and whose style of play could further enhance his defensive prowess. "I've had the opportunity to speak with him. He congratulated me. Returning to my former home is a dream come true."

Real Madrid has finalized his signing after reaching an agreement with Benfica for a fee of 50 million euros . The club had been monitoring the young defender for some time and intended for him to arrive before the Club World Cup, although the Lisbon club preferred to wait until after the tournament. Furthermore, Rafa Obrador's recent purchase made it possible to unblock the deal.

The full-back spoke about this: "I was focused on Benfica until the Club World Cup. I didn't know anything until it was made official. I signed with them for several years and I was comfortable there. I had to respect them; in the end, it's the club that gave me everything . I'm incredibly grateful."

Carreras returns to his former home after a great season in the Primeira Liga, where he made 32 appearances and 10 Champions League appearances. His performance against high-profile opponents, such as his impressive display against FC Barcelona in the group stage, reinforced the focus on his profile. In the presentation video released by Real Madrid, his defensive prowess and his ability to stop unbalanced wingers like Lamine Yamal were highlighted, a clear target for his marking in the upcoming Clásicos.

When asked about it, he said: "A season's worth of work can't be based on just one game. I've been very good all season and I promise to perform at a high level with the team of my dreams ."

He's fondly remembered at Valdebebas. During his time in the youth academy between 2017 and 2020, he played alongside youngsters like Raúl Asencio , and today he returns as a player with international experience at Manchester United, Granada, Preston, and Benfica. His vision and discipline off the ball make him a surgical reinforcement for a team looking to regain its lost solidity.

Fran García and Ferland Mendy weren't convincing last season, and now Carreras has joined them, although he's not worried about the competition: "They're two incredible players, but I'm here to work on myself, to continue making history and winning titles."

Carreras' arrival is part of the restructuring of the defense led by Xabi Alonso . In addition to the already confirmed arrivals of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold, a left-back with Real Madrid DNA has now been added.