- Left-back Alvaro Fernandez, 21, has made everlasting his Benfica mortgage for £5m
- He was considered a promising expertise however did not play a primary group sport
- Kane first, Saka second… which participant in Gareth Southgate’s squad has the third most objectives for England? Hearken to the It’s All Kicking Off! Podcast
Manchester United’s summer season clear-out is underway with the sale of Spanish defender Alvaro Fernandez to Benfica after a profitable mortgage spell in Portugal.
The 21-year-old left-back did not make a first-team look for United, as a substitute spending time on mortgage at Preston North Finish, Granada after which Benfica.
United signed him into their academy from Actual Madrid in 2020, with Fernandez considered an thrilling prospect.
He performed 16 instances for Benfica in the course of the second-half of the season, sufficient to set off a compulsory purchase clause within the phrases of his mortgage, reported to be round €6 million (£5.1m).
Fernandez made Erik ten Hag’s bench for United’s Premier League sport in opposition to Nottingham Forest again in August earlier than he was loaned to LaLiga membership Granada on deadline day.
Alvaro Fernandez has made everlasting his mortgage transfer to Benfica for round £5million as Manchester United start their summer season squad clear-out
The Spanish left-back made 16 appearances for Benfica in the course of the second half of the season
United recalled him after 14 outings in Spain and brokered the take care of Benfica, the place Fernandez helped Roger Schmidt’s facet end second within the league, 10 factors behind champions Sporting Lisbon.
Followers grew enthusiastic about Fernandez when he received the Denzil Haroun Reserve group participant of the 12 months award in 2021-22, making the first-team bench a number of instances in the direction of the tip of that marketing campaign.
At Preston, he received the Championship membership’s Younger Participant of the Yr accolade after a sequence of sturdy performances.
However with Luke Shaw the first-choice left-back and Tyrell Malacia additionally coming in after Ten Hag’s appointment in 2022, Fernandez confronted stiff competitors at United.
Mockingly, an damage disaster within the place this season may need seen him progressed to the facet had he not been out on mortgage.
Fernandez is more likely to be the primary of a number of United gamers to go away this summer season with co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS in search of to lift funds for brand new recruits.
Studies have prompt United’s summer season switch finances is simply £35m in money, a determine that’s anticipated to be swollen by participant gross sales.
Fernandez was named on United’s bench by Erik ten Hag originally of the season
Signed from Actual Madrid’s academy in 2020, there was hope Fernandez would prosper
It stays to be seen whether or not Ten Hag is the person to spend that cash, along with his future nonetheless unsure regardless of Saturday’s FA Cup remaining win over Manchester Metropolis.
The Dutch coach is beneath severe strain after United might solely end eighth within the Premier League, their lowest place since 1990.
That meant they initially missed out on European soccer subsequent season however the FA Cup win means they will be within the UEFA Europa League.
United’s house owners have held talks with candidates together with Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Kieran McKenna and Thomas Frank as they weigh up whether or not Ten Hag ought to keep on.
