From being untouchable to leaving Real Madrid: Álvaro Carreras is to blame

Ferland Mendy's situation at Real Madrid has taken a radical turn in a very short time. The French full-back, who for years was considered untouchable because of his defensive reliability, no longer has his place guaranteed. If he decides to stay, he knows perfectly well what he's facing: a secondary role and many more doubts than certainties.

Injuries have marked his recent trajectory. Mendy has become a regular in the infirmary and that, at a club like Madrid, carries a lot of weight. Continuity is almost as important as talent, and in that regard the Frenchman has been losing ground in a silent but constant way.

The firm bet on Álvaro Carreras

The change has a first and last name: Álvaro Carreras. Following a similar line to the one Xabi Alonso applied in other contexts, the current coaching staff have a clear idea. Carreras is the option that convinces them the most to take over the left flank, and by quite a margin.

At Santiago Bernabéu they are delighted with his performances and, above all, with his quick adaptation. His understanding with Vinícius Júnior has been key. Both of them enhance each other, look for each other, and complement each other, something that the team needed in order to gain depth and fluency on the left wing.

A high salary for a lesser role

With Carreras established as a starter, Mendy is left in an uncomfortable position. At the club they consider him a good backup, but his salary is too high for a secondary role. The sporting management don't see it as logical to keep such a high wage for a regular substitute.

The idea is to rejuvenate the squad and optimize resources. In that scenario, betting on a younger profile or even giving continuity to Fran García is more coherent. In fact, Fran himself also has options to leave, which confirms that the left-back position is undergoing a deep restructuring.

Saudi Arabia emerges as an exit route

With this outlook, Mendy's departure is no longer a taboo. From Saudi Arabia they have shown interest in securing his services, an option that would allow the player to keep an important role and the club to free up wage bill. For all parties, the fit is starting to make sense.

Álvaro Carreras is today the undisputed starter and the present of the white left-back position. Mendy has gone from untouchable to expendable in a matter of months. Soccer doesn't wait for anyone and, at Real Madrid, competition always delivers the verdict; this time, the ruling seems clear.