Former Benfica star worried Manchester United will swoop for ‘complete player’

Manchester United have been without a fit left-back for the best part of 18 months.

Luke Shaw cannot be relied on, while Tyrell Malacia has been absent since the beginning of last season.

Erik ten Hag’s decision to sell Alvaro Fernandez continues to confuse as the Spanish full-back has enjoyed a rise of prominence in the Primeira Liga.

Fernandez joined Benfica for just £5 million following a successful loan spell, although United do have a buy-back option at £16 million.

Now a first-team starter at Benfica, Fernandez has not looked back since and is going from strength to strength in a side that competes in the Champions League.

Ten Hag was asked about potentially moving for Fernandez before receiving his marching orders. The former manager backed the process, citing the extra experience Fernandez is gaining as a first-team regular elsewhere.

The point, however, is that he could be starting for United and filling a void at left-back.

There will be more links to Fernandez now that Ruben Amorim has been hired as head coach. The Sporting boss will know how good the young full-back is after competing against Benfica for league titles.

Former Benfica star Alvaro Magalhaes admits he is worried United will swoop for Fernandes as early as January.

Magalhaes told A Bola: “I only fear that Ruben Amorim will take him to Manchester United.

“It seems to me that he has the quality to be one of the first options and looking at the squad I believe that with the new coaching staff he could be a possibility again, especially because the new coach knows him very well from what he saw of him at Benfica.”

He added fearfully: “The decision is not just in the club’s hands.”

Alvaro Fernandez better than former Benfica ace

Moreover, Magalhaes believes Fernandez has more strengths than former Benfica ace Alejandro Grimaldo, who won the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen last season.

He added: “He is better than Grimaldo defensively. Grimaldo is more of a midfielder than a defender, as we have seen in Germany.

“He [Fernandez] defends well and attacks well. Does he make mistakes? Yes, like everyone else. But he is a complete player and will get better and better if he always plays the full 90 minutes: he gains confidence, corrects any weaknesses he may have and, as he is very young, he has the room for improvement.”