‘He has the quality’ – Ruben Amorim’s first Man United signing ‘already been decided’ ahead of January transfer

‘He has the quality’ – Ruben Amorim’s first Man United signing ‘already been decided’ ahead of January transfer

Ruben Amorim will get to work at Manchester United during the November international break, and his first Red Devils signing could already be written in the stars

Under new manager Ruben Amorim, Spanish defender Alvaro Fernandez Carreras might be able to earn a return to Manchester United.

Benfica legend Alvaro Magalhaes thinks his namesake, who relocated to the Portuguese city in May, has the class to return to Old Trafford.

Fernandez, 21, moved to Carrington in 2020 when he was 16 years old, leaving Real Madrid in the face of rival Manchester City’s desire.

The Spanish left-back played for the Red Devils’ Under-21 team almost fifty times before leaving for Benfica, who exercised a £5 million buyout option this summer, after disappointing loan stints with Preston and Granada. Benfica has not regretted this move.

Fernandez has started nearly all of The Eagles’ domestic and Champions League matches this season, constantly impressing.

Incoming boss Amorim, managing rivals Sporting CP, has seen such performances and, according to Alvaro, will likely take the Primeira Liga outfit up on the near £17m buy-back clause that the Manchester club withhold.

Sporting skipper wants to prove they ‘don’t need’ new Man Utd boss Amorim
“I’m afraid Rúben Amorim will take him [Fernandez] to Manchester United,” Alvaro, who played over 200 times for Benfica and last managed top-flight side Farense, admitted.

“It seems to me that he has the quality to be one of their first options, and looking at their squad, I believe with the new coaching staff, he could become an option again because the new coach knows him very well from what he saw at Benfica.

“When he debuted in the league, I saw a brilliant left-back in him. The way he positioned himself, how he touched the ball. For many, doubts are only now starting to dissipate. I feel today that many people have long been undermining a high-performance athlete with potential for high achievement.

“At Benfica, only the best should play, and he is undoubtedly the best. He was wronged within Benfica, but fortunately, he never gave up.”

With United’s squad having been critiqued for their sub-par mentality, Alvaro feels that one thing Fernandez would bring back with him to Old Trafford – if Amorim offered him a return – is a tenacity that few current players have.

“That ability to react to adversity seems to be his strength,” Alvaro continued. “Great players only succeed if they are mentally very strong, and that seems to be the case. If someone is weak, they can’t play for Benfica, just as they can’t play for Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, or PSG.

“If he were weak, he would have already been released from Benfica. He is one of those footballers we should fight to keep at the club because of their quality. I hope he has a lot of luck and continues to have a great season.”

Amorim’s side has until the summer of 2026 to exercise the £17m option – standing at £42m for other teams – that would see them buy back Fernandez. But former boss Erik ten Hag didn’t seem wholly convinced when asked about his progress last month before being sacked.