Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Manchester United are still keeping tabs on former left-back Alvaro Fernandez, who they could re-sign from Benfica due to a buy-back clause in his contract.
The full-back left the club this past summer on a permanent deal in search of regular game time and opted to sign for Portuguese giants Benfica, who he had previously signed for on loan in January 2024.
Fernandez left in the summer for a fee of just £5m, and considering the consistent injuries to first-choice Luke Shaw, it is surprising that United allowed the Spaniard to leave for such a small fee.
Ten Hag has also regularly spoken about how injury issues have plagued his side and prevented his team from maximising their potential, so the decision to part company with the left-back and allow Benfica to have inserted a buy option into the initial loan deal is peculiar.
However, The Mirror report that Ten Hag has said that he is pleased with how the club have dealt with Fernandez, and that the player's development in the Primeira Liga continues to be monitored.
© Imago
Would Fernandez get game time?
Shaw has long been regarded as Manchester United's first-choice left-back, but the Englishman's injury issues have gotten so severe that it would arguably be negligent of the club to not address the position.
Shaw started just 12 times last term in the Premier League, is yet to make an appearance for the team in 2024-25 and has only made 25 or more starts in the top flight for the Red Devils in three of his 11 seasons in Manchester.
Ten Hag has relied on right-back Diogo Dalot to fill in at left-back, with summer signing Noussair Mazraoui thrown straight into the starting XI on the right of defence.
To Dalot's credit, he has performed admirably at times and is comfortable in all phases of play on either foot, but he showcased his best form in a United shirt as a right-back in the 2023-24 campaign.
Tyrell Malacia has also not played for the club since May 2023, and considering the length of his absence and severity of his injury, he may struggle to establish himself in the team.
© Imago
Fernandez friction with Ten Hag?
There appears to be ample opportunity for a new left-back to cement themselves as a starter in the XI, and Fernandez has previously spoken about his desire to return to United.
Having said that, the left-back has also noted that he was told Ten Hag did not count on him for the first team, and that it would be better to gain experience elsewhere.
Perhaps Fernandez would be unwilling to return to Manchester in light of the fact the current manager showed a lack of faith in him when he was younger, making talk of United exercising the buy option redundant.
Man United's disappointing form this season has led some to question whether the Dutch boss has a future at the club, and there is a possibility that Ten Hag may not be in charge by the time the Red Devils could activate any summer clause in Fernandez's contract.
Regardless, it is difficult to see how someone as ambitious and talented as the Spaniard stays off the radar of other clubs, so if United do wish to re-sign him, it would be wise to make their plans clear to the full-back.
Lewis Nolan
