Álvaro Carreras recently made his first appearance for Benfica in the Club World Cup, featuring in a thrilling 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors. The match, widely regarded as one of the most exciting of the tournament, was filled with drama, high intensity, and plenty of goals.
Though Benfica entered as favorites, Boca Juniors took control early, scoring twice within the first 27 minutes. Miguel Merentiel opened the scoring with a sharp finish inside the box, followed by a headed goal from Battaglia. However, Benfica fought back before halftime, with Ángel Di María converting a penalty to reduce the deficit.
The game saw its share of controversy, including the dismissal of Benfica’s Ander Herrera, who was sent off from the bench after an altercation with a staff member. The midfielder had already been substituted due to injury earlier in the match.
The second half brought more drama when Boca’s Andrea Belotti received a red card for a reckless challenge. Despite Benfica’s pressure, the equalizer came late Nicolás Otamendi powered in a header in the 84th minute, silencing the Boca Juniors crowd. The Argentine defender, known for his ties to rival club River Plate, celebrated defiantly in front of the home supporters.
After the match, Otamendi was asked about Carreras’ future amid rumors linking the young player to Real Madrid.
“Álvaro is a humble and hardworking player,” Otamendi said. “Right now, his focus is entirely on Benfica and performing well in this prestigious tournament. His future will depend on his own decisions, but for now, he’s fully committed to our club.”
He initially stated that having Carreras at Benfica “was a huge pleasure,” but quickly corrected himself, saying, “It still is a huge pleasure,” emphasizing that the left-back remains an important part of the squad.
Carreras played the full 90 minutes in the match, showing his potential on the big stage. As speculation continues, his performances will likely determine whether a high-profile transfer materializes in the future.
