October 18th 2024.
According to Erik ten Hag, the club is closely following the progress of Alvaro Fernandez, who recently made a permanent move to Benfica in the summer. The talented left-back joined United as a 16-year-old from Real Madrid and has since made his way up through the ranks with loans at Preston and Granada.
Despite not being able to make his first-team debut at Old Trafford, Fernandez has caught the attention of Benfica, who exercised their option to sign him permanently for a bargain price of £5 million. This season, the 21-year-old has proven himself as a valuable member of the team, much to the frustration of United fans who are currently facing a shortage of left-backs due to injuries.
During a press conference on Friday, ten Hag confirmed that the club is still closely monitoring Fernandez's progress and have a buy-back clause in place should he continue to impress. He also acknowledged that the process of loaning him out to different clubs has been beneficial for his development and that he needed the opportunity to play for better clubs and in better leagues.
However, ten Hag also recognized that playing for Manchester United is no easy feat, especially in the Premier League. He emphasized the need for experience and development, which can only come from playing for top clubs and in top leagues. As for Fernandez, he has started in all but one of Benfica's league games this season and has been a standout performer in the Champions League, particularly in the 4-0 win against Atletico Madrid.
It's not just United who are keeping an eye on Fernandez's progress, as La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are also closely monitoring his performances. With such high interest from top clubs, it remains to be seen if he will be an option for United in the near future. For now, the club will continue to watch his development and assess the situation.
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