'Xabi Alonso is intense!' - Real Madrid boss doing things 'they way they should be' as new signing Alvaro Carreras reveals what coach expects of him

Carreras, 22, has officially started pre-season with Madrid, five years after leaving the club as a teenager. Now back as a €50m (£43m/$58m) signing from Benfica, the Spanish left-back spoke to club media about working under Alonso and adapting to the demands of his new role. Alonso, in his first sessions as Madrid boss, has already made a strong impression on the Spanish defender, who praised his intensity, clarity, and tactical expectations on the pitch.

Carreras was quick to praise new manager, highlighting the clarity and intensity that defines the former midfielder’s approach. The Spaniard seems energised by Alonso’s direct methods and structured expectations. 

He said: “He’s intense, but above all, he has very clear ideas, which is what I like. He does things the way they should be.”

He knows exactly that Alonso expects from him in his left-back role, and it goes beyond simply defending: “To help up front, but also back. I have to help, that's my position.”

While he's no stranger to the Madrid crest, Carreras is still waiting for the moment he steps onto the pitch at the Bernabeu: “It's a dream come true. I've already worn this training shirt and this badge, but I'm already looking forward to the day at the stadium.”

Carreras’ return is not just about a homecoming, it’s a statement of intent from Madrid. The club desperately needed reinforcement at left-back after years of patchy form and injury issues with Ferland Mendy, David Alaba. Signing one of Europe’s most promising full-backs, someone who knows the club inside out, ticks both tactical and emotional boxes. His price tag is steep but underlines Los Blancos’ belief in his long-term future. It also marks a symbolic correction of a mistake made when Carreras was allowed to leave in 2020.

Carreras is expected to compete immediately for the starting left-back spot. His familiarity with the club, paired with the maturity gained in Manchester and Lisbon, puts him in a prime position to thrive under Alonso’s intense and possession-based system.