Man United get green light for return transfer of Outstanding Benfica star open to Old Trafford move as Erik ten Hag backs him to shine -Report

Man United get green light for return transfer of Outstanding Benfica star open to Old Trafford move as Erik ten Hag backs him to shine -Report

Alvaro Fernandez was permitted to depart Man United during the summer transfer window, but a comeback has not been ruled out.

Alvaro Fernandez’s departure from Manchester United during the summer transfer window appears to have been a terrible decision.

Erik ten Hag is still without a natural left-back in his starting lineup more than two months into the season.

Tyrell Malacia last competed for United in May 2023, while Luke Shaw hasn’t played since February.

Due to their continuous absences, Diogo Dalot has been the left-back who does nearly all of the hard lifting.

Some fans have questioned the club allowing Fernandez to leave in the summer. He joined Benfica on a permanent deal after spending the second half of last season on loan in Portugal.

Fernandez, 21, joined the Portuguese side in a deal initially worth €6million. He left United having failed to make a single appearance for the first team.

Having spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Preston North End, the first half of last season at Granada and then the second half of last season at Benfica, it was clear United felt his development would be aided by regular game time.

However, Fernandez’s sharp rise at Benfica this season has resulted in supporters criticising United’s decision to sell him when they did. At the time, securing a €6m fee for a player that had never played for the club felt like excellent business.

Fernandez has produced a string of eye-catching performances, not least against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League earlier this month. Amid his upward trajectory, it could prove to be good news for United that they have the option to re-sign him via a buy-back clause. It is understood the option is there until 2026.

Speaking at Friday’s press conference, United manager Erik ten Hag was asked about the possibility of United triggering the option to re-sign the Spaniard at some point in the future and he refused to rule it out.

He said: “I think the process is perfect. We loaned him to Preston, he got back, then we loaned him to Granada, but he didn’t play so much there and of course, all the time we observed him.

“Now we had the opportunity to sell him, but we have a buy-back, so we have control of the situaion. But I think that’s what he needed from Preston, then go to La Liga, then the next step Portugal, every time stepping up to a higher club and a better league, so we have to see and assess the situation if he can maybe be an option for us in the future.

“But playing for Man United and in the Premier League is not so easy. You need experience and you need development, and you get it playing for better clubs and in better leagues.”

Of course, Fernandez is still finding his feet as a first-team player and it remains to be seen if he will be able to maintain the level of form he is currently enjoying.

Nevertheless, his current trajectory does offer United something to think about amid their ongoing left-back troubles.