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Sean KearnsPublished Oct 15, 2024, 10:31am|Updated Oct 15, 2024, 10:32am
Manchester United’s problems at left-back have well documented in recent years.
Though Luke Shaw’s ability is not in doubt, his fitness issues limited him to just 12 Premier League appearances last term.
Tyrell Malacia, signed in 2022 as back-up for Shaw, has been out of action for 16 months with a knee injury.
It’s forced Diogo Dalot to play left-back this term but the Portuguese full-back will likely be switched to his favoured right-back slot against Brentford this weekend with Noussair Mazraoui set for a spell on the sidelines.
Given the club’s problems, it was a surprise to many to see Alvaro Fernandez sold to Benfica last summer.
The Spaniard, signed from Real Madrid’s academy in 2017, was long tipped to make a breakthrough into United’s first team.
But Benfica triggered a £6m option to buy the full-back following his loan spell in Lisbon last season.
Fernandez has gone on to thrive in Portugal and starred in the club’s 4-0 Champions League win against Atletico Madrid earlier this month.
That’s seen Fernandez linked with big money moves to Real Madrid and Liverpool, who could trigger the £50m release clause in the defender’s contract.
But United have the option – until 2026 at least – of buying back Fernandez thanks to a clause in the defender’s deal.
The Red Devils can pay Benfica £16.4m for their former defender, which would see him return to Old Trafford.
Though that’s a hefty increase on the £6m United got by selling Fernandez, his development has come on considerably since and £16m is still well below his market value.
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