This article was originally published on www.si.com as Alvaro Carreras: Why Real Madrid Paid €50 Million to Re-Sign a Player Who Left For Free. Five years later, Álvaro Carreras is back with Real Madrid.

Carreras has taken a winding route via Manchester United, the Championship and Benfica to get back to the Spanish capital

Real Madrid confirmed their fourth signing of the summer on Monday as they brought in Alvaro Carreras from SL Benfica.The 22-year-old arrived in a deal worth €50 million, to be paid in multiple