Mizgan Masani
Alvaro Fernandez happy to come back to Manchester United after a perfect loan spell
Young Manchester United defender Alvaro Fernandez is eager to come back to Red Devils after a perfect season on loan at Preston North End.
The former Real Madrid youth product, who was signed by United in 2020, was sent on a season-long loan to the Championship side.
The 20-year-old has made 37 appearances in the league for Preston, assisting four goals and becoming a key part of the side that may contest the playoffs this year. They are currently two points behind sixth-placed Sunderland with two games to go.
Here’s what Fernandez when asked about his season at Deepdale and his eagerness to come back to United (h/t Lancs Live):
“It’s been a good season for me – I have taken the experience that I wanted right at the beginning, with 39 (now 40) appearances in total. It’s been the perfect season for me, I think. We have a very good squad and everyone is close in the changing room – it’s a good feeling. We have no problems inside and we know what we want.
“I think I will go to speak with them [United] in one or two weeks. They will say that I need to come back in pre-season, to Manchester United – then we will speak again, after training, to see what happens and what they want. The world is crazy. You never know in football. Erik ten Hag, he has to choose!”
Fernandez is a versatile defender who can operate both as a left-back and wing-back. He has also played as a left winger for the youth sides at United.
If we look at the options Erik ten Hag has at his disposal for the left-back slot, the competition is fierce between Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, while Diogo Dalot has done well there when asked to play in his opposite flank.
So, unless the boss wants to change the shape and have an extra option for the wing-back position, it seems unlikely that Fernandez would get much game time at United next season.
Hence, it might not be bad for the Spaniard to maybe go back out on loan to a different club and gain more experience in the next 12 months.
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If possible, can United sanction a move to a fellow Premier League club? Once that happens, Ten Hag can have an eye on how he is doing in a league the same as where United are competing.
