Real Madrid full-back remains committed to succeeding at club despite Cucurella signing

Real Madrid full-back remains committed to succeeding at club despite Cucurella signing Real Madrid signed three defenders last summer: Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alvaro Carreras, and there was a lot of anticipation surrounding those names. However, all three ended up having a difficult initiation to life in Madrid and struggled to showcase their true potential over the course of the season. Carreras’ season, in particular, was an interesting one. He started off really well, emerging as a mainstay under Xabi Alonso, and looked like the real deal. However, his importance to the team entered a downward spiral once Alvaro Arbeloa took over, and he finished the season as third choice in the position behind Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia. Now, Real Madrid have signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea while still having all three left-backs in the squad, and it raises the question of what happens to Carreras now. Real Madrid have signed Marc Cucurella. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images) Carreras wants his place According to The Athletic , Carreras remains determined to make his Real Madrid career work, but there is also a clear message coming from his camp: he did not return to the club simply to accept a back-up role. The Spaniard had previously spent time in the club’s youth system between 2017 and 2020, and Los Blancos brought him back from Benfica in 2025 on a contract until 2031. For Carreras, this was not a casual move. Returning to Real Madrid after developing elsewhere was always going to carry emotional weight, but also sporting pressure. A player with his potential does not come back to the Bernabeu on a long contract just to be satisfied with secondary status. Of course, at a club like Real Madrid, there is always going to be competition for minutes, but the arrival of Cucurella, who is a bona fide star, could see Carreras’ importance diminish. The message is simple Carreras’ stance should not be seen as a problem. It should be seen as exactly the kind of mentality the club should want. Carreras remains committed and determined. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) No player aiming to reach the top of the game will be happy to have his minutes rotated. His 28 league appearances and 2,334 minutes in his debut campaign were impressive, but he should be looking to improve on that. The message from the 23-year-old is simple. He is not giving up just because the club have signed Cucurella. He wants to fight for his place. That is a reasonable demand, as long as it comes with performances. At Real Madrid, no one should be promised a starting place, and that will bring the best out of all the players in the squad. Carreras now has to respond in the best possible way: by making the decision difficult for the coach. He has an advantage over Cucurella. The new signing is away on Spain duty and will not be available for the start of pre-season, assuming La Roja make a deep run in the tournament. Carreras will get a head start to impress Mourinho in training, and it is up to him to take that chance and establish himself as a genuine contender for the left-back berth