“It was a mistake to let him leave before but we could just trigger the buy-back clause in the contract. It is a good thing that we have full control over the situation” – Manchester United coach

“It was a mistake to let him leave before but we could just trigger the buy-back clause in the contract. It is a good thing that we have full control over the situation”

– Manchester United: Ruben Amorim suggests the possibility of triggering a ‘buy-back clause’ to bring back one of the best in the Premier League, stating ‘we have control’ over the situation.

Manchester United manager has hinted at the possibility of activating a buy-back clause to re-sign a former player, either in the upcoming January transfer window or next summer.

During the 2024 summer transfer window, Manchester United sold several players, including Scott McTominay, Mason Greenwood, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and left-back Alvaro Carreras, who was sold for approximately £5 million.

Carreras, a former Real Madrid youth player who joined United in 2020, never made a senior appearance for the club, spending time on loan at Preston, Granada, and Benfica.

Since his permanent move to Benfica, the 21-year-old has delivered impressive performances, particularly in the Champions League against Red Star Belgrade and Atletico Madrid.

Injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have left United short on left-back options. While summer signing Noussair Mazraoui has performed well, Jonny Evans was deployed as a makeshift left-back against Brentford due to Mazraoui’s recovery from a heart procedure.

This situation has led to speculation about a potential return for Carreras, who is also reportedly attracting interest from other top clubs like Liverpool, Barcelona, and Real Madrid.

Ten Hag believes Manchester United “have control of the situation” due to a £16 million buy-back clause in Carreras’s contract and suggested a potential move could be on the horizon.

“The process has been perfect,” Ten Hag explained. “We loaned him to Preston, then Granada, where he didn’t play much. We monitored him all along and eventually had the chance to sell.”

“But we have a buy-back clause, so we maintain control of the situation, and I think that’s exactly what he needed,” Ten Hag stated.

“Starting at Preston, then moving to La Liga, and now playing in Portugal with Benfica—each step has taken him to a higher club and a more competitive league. Now, we need to assess the situation and see if he could be an option for us.”

“However, playing for Manchester United, especially in the Premier League, is not easy. It requires experience and development, and you gain that by playing for top clubs and in stronger leagues,” he concluded.