From Grimaldo… to Carreras: The Eagles’ full-back has already surpassed the Spanish international’s debut season at Benfica – I Liga

Taking his first steps at Benfica, Álvaro Carreras arrived at the Eagles to take a place that had long belonged to Grimaldo. There have been many comparisons and the truth is that the former Granada player has ‘big shoes to fill’, despite already surpassing the Bayer Leverkusen full-back in his debut season.

Grimaldo’s departure, in this summer market, left a ‘hole’ that was very difficult to fill in the Reds with names like Jurásek or Ristic not being able to fill the Spaniard’s place. However, despite not having yet secured the starting spot, Carreras seems to be a substitute who could reach Grimaldo’s level, especially at a time when he should gain more minutes after Bah’s injury against SC Braga.

After all, in his debut season for Benfica, Carreras already surpassed Grimaldo. At the time in 2015/2016, aged 20, the now Spanish international played five games, four of them as a starter, but did not score any goals or even assist. In turn, Carreras, who joined the Eagles in the winter market, already has eight games in the Primeira Liga and even scored a goal against Farense.

Despite having ‘big shoes to fill’, in relation to Grimaldo, who last season with his goalscoring streak scored eight goals, many of them direct free-kicks, and fourteen assists. The truth is that, Álvaro Carreras still has a long way to go and from what everything indicates the evolution will have to go through Benfica, since the eagles must activate the purchase clause, of 6 million euros, of the loan made with the Manchester United.

At 21 years old, Carreras, before arriving at Benfica, gained experience at Granada where he played 19 games for Granada, 13 of them in LaLiga, in half a season. Before that he played in the Championship, with Preston North End, with 42 games and six assists.

Little by little, the Spaniard has gained the trust of his fans and was even entitled to praise from Roger Schmidt, after starting against Moreirense, at the Estádio da Luz, with the German coach considering him “a very good player.” talented”.