Man United Handed Major Blow For Academy Graduate

Manchester United are keeping strong tabs on Alvaro Fernandez for next summer.

The 21-year-old left United for Benfica in the summer, following loan spells with Preston North End and Granada.

Many believed Fernandez deserved opportunities last season when the Reds found themselves in a similar situation at left-back, where we’ve suffered with long-term injuries only to leave the manager short of options most match days.

Although the 21-year-old has a release clause worth in the region of £42million written into his contract at the Estadio da Luz, the Premier League giants have the opportunity to acquire his services for just £16.7million as a result of ensuring they could profit from a productive spell in the Primeira Liga.

Amorim’s insight will help Manchester United’s key decision-makers to understand how Fernandez would fit into his future vision, sources have learned, and whether they should continue taking a potential move back to Old Trafford seriously after they have shown a willingness to re-sign him if he progresses well at Benfica.

Manchester United’s strategy to bring Alvaro Fernandez through the buyback clause could be hampered by Benfica’s unwillingness to let the Spaniard go for a cheap release clause.

Alvaro Fernandez will be held for up to four transfer windows to utilize the United buyback clause in his contract, which was activated when he joined Benfica last summer.

Benfica aims to sell Fernandez for a higher fee to other clubs seeking his services all around Europe. The club’s strategy on mega sale each window could continue with the Spaniard.