Manchester United fans were left to rue the club’s decision to let one of their young stars leave this summer after he turned in a sensational performance in the Champions League.
Alvaro Fernandez was named in the Benfica side that thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 on Wednesday night.
In just his second appearance in the competition, the left-back was one of his side’s best performers with Portuguese newspaper Record naming him the game’s standout player after the famous win in Lisbon.
A Bola meanwhile gushed: ‘Very good defensively, always one step ahead of the opponents. Came out with great class with transitions down the wing. He stretched the team on the left, gave depth without ever compromising the team’s balance.’
Fernandez joined United’s academy as a 16-year-old from Real Madrid but despite starring for the Under-23s, never made his senior debut.
After an initial loan spell last season, Fernandez joined Benfica on a permanent deal for just £5million. He was one of several players offloaded by United alongside Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Scott McTominay, Mason Greenwood and Willy Kambwala as the club sought to raise extra cash for incoming transfer business.
That modest fee for Fernandez is already looking like money well spent for a promising young left-back, a position which has been a huge problem for United all year.
United started the 2024-25 campaign with no recognised left-back with Diogo Dalot swapping over to that side to provide cover. Luke Shaw has not played for his club since February while Tyrell Malacia has been sidelined since May 2023.
United do have another promising young left-back in their ranks in Harry Amass who featured for the first-team during pre-season. But the 17-year-old is deemed not quite ready for the demands of senior football by Ten Hag and his staff.
Predictably, frustrated United fans have lamented the decision to let Fernandez go with one X user describing it as a ‘massive mistake’ and a ‘big opportunity missed’.
Another bemoaned the decision to sell Fernandez ‘for peanuts’ with the young Spaniard referred to as a ‘Kobbie Mainoo-level talent’ by another.
Fernandez has been almost ever-present in the Benfica starting XI this season, starting and completing their last five matches and their two Champions League wins over Red Star and Atletico.
There is some good news for United, however. Reports suggest the club do have a buy back clause should they ever consider bringing him back to Manchester.
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