Benfica trigger option to make Álvaro Fernández deal permanent
Primeira Liga club Benfica have decided to make the deal for Man United left-back Álvaro Fernández permanent.
The Spain U21 international broke into the senior United setup after spending two years in their academy, having arrived from the Real Madrid academy in 2020.
Fernández previously spent a season-long loan spell at Preston North End before moving to Granada on loan for the first half of this season. He was then recalled by United to take up a half-season loan stint at Benfica in January earlier this year.
Having impressed with his performances, Fernández is now set to stay at the Estadio da Luz on the back of a €6m fee Benfica are set to send United’s way, as per football journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Benfica finished second in the 2023/24 Liga Portugal table, ten points behind champions Sporting.
A sound move for all parties included
Fernández failed to impress Erik ten Hag enough to warrant a berth in the United squad. Given the injuries United have sustained this season, one could say Fernández would have been a better fit at left-back than, say, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but if the manager does not want you, sticking around does not work for anyone.
At 21, Fernández is reaching that age where he needs to play senior football consistently over the next three or so years for the sake of his career going forward. His Benfica move being made permanent thus works out for everyone.
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That said, one does hope United put in place a buy-back clause or at least a “first right of refusal” component into Fernández’s new deal at Benfica, should they choose to go back for him in a few years.
