Preston’s Real Madrid connection goes even deeper than Alvaro Carreras, he’s following an England legend’s path

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Preston North End have a big season ahead of them after just avoiding relegation to League One in 2024/25.

Daniel Iversen has returned to the club after a difficult time with Leicester City, with supporters buzzing that the goalkeeper has joined.

Nevertheless, more work is still needed to ensure that the Lilywhites are pushing themselves further up the table with just a little over three weeks to go until the first Championship fixtures of the season.

However, moving away from Deepdale, there has been a significant transfer in the footballing world that will attract the attention of Preston fans and it seems as though history has repeated itself.

• READ MORE – Preston North End’s five most expensive signings include Champions League winner and international record goalscorer

Alvaro Carreras’ move to Real Madrid will be of interest to those at Preston North End

As reported by ESPN on Monday, Alvaro Carreras has made the switch from Portuguese outfit Benfica to Real Madrid for €50m (£43.2m).

While this is a move that feels very isolated from the EFL, in 2022 the left-back spent time on loan with Preston.

Carreras, who is Spanish, played 39 times in the Championship for the Lilywhites in the 2022/23 campaign, registering four assists as his former club finished 12th. A horrendous run of form at the end of the season denied the Lancashire outfit a chance of a play-off finish, something that will still frustrate fans.

Yet, it was the first opportunity for the now 22-year-old to get consistent football after moving to North End from Manchester United and rather bizarrely, he’s not the only player to have followed this career path.

• READ MORE – Leicester City wanted star compared to Kylian Mbappe in 2022, now he’s close to £70m transfer

David Beckham also played for Manchester United and Real Madrid after a Deepdale spell

While Carreras did not go directly from Manchester United to Real Madrid, you cannot help but see the parallels between his career and David Beckham’s.

The England legend played five league games for Preston in a very short loan spell in 1995. He scored twice during his time at Deepdale, with one of those coming directly from a corner.

Beckham spent the next eight years in the first team at Manchester United before becoming one of the Galacticos when he joined Real Madrid in 2003.

Carreras will be hoping for even more success than the Salford City owner had at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Preston should be given credit for his development.