Erik ten Hag confirms Man Utd’s stance on bringing back Alvaro Fernandez, talks buy-back clause

Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia seem to be perpetually injured at the moment and the last time United played with a natural left-back in the XI feels like a lifetime ago.

That’s why Man Utd’s buyback clause for Fernandez was at the forefront of transfer rumours, especially as Fernandez attracted interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

His rise was predicted by Rui Costa, the Benfica president who praised Fernandez when he joined the club, and a few months later he appears to be a mistake by United.

However, Erik ten Hag disagrees and has given United’s position on bringing the player back.

Erik ten Hag over Alvaro Fernandez to Man Utd

United obviously have a £25m advantage over their rivals if they want to bring the left-back back to Old Trafford.

That’s because Fernandez’s release clause at Benfica is almost £42 million, much higher than the buyback for United.

Still, it ultimately depends on the player himself and it has previously been reported that he wants to move to Real Madrid instead, in which case the sell-on clause will come into play.

In the meantime, Ten Hag has confirmed United’s buy-back clause, insisting the club evaluate Fernandez’s situation at Benfica.

He refuted suggestions United had made a mistake and insisted a permanent sale is what he needed to take the next step in his career.

He said: “I think the process is perfect. We loaned him to Preston, he came back, then we loaned him to Granada, he didn’t play that much there, and of course we watched him all the time and now we had the chance to sell him.

“But we have a buyback clause, so we have control over the situation, I think that’s what he needed. From Preston, then go to La Liga, go to Portugal (with Benfica) and move to a higher club and a better league each time.

“Now we have to look at the situation and assess whether he can be an option for us. But playing for Man United is not that easy, playing in the Premier League for Manchester United is not that easy.

“You need experience, but also development. You get development by playing for better clubs and in better competitions.”

Did Man Utd make a mistake?

Ten Hag’s words at press conferences fail to resonate with fans, especially as no interview seems to go these days without him mentioning the two trophies he won at the club.

However, in this case he is more right than wrong as a player playing well after leaving United does not mean his trajectory would have been the same at the club.

United signed Sergio Reguilon on loan last season and felt comfortable selling Fernandez this year, even knowing that neither Shaw nor Malacia are beacons of reliability.

It is therefore clear that Fernandez would never have been given the playing time to make the breakthrough he has in Portugal.

While there are certainly questions to be raised about not giving him the chance to impress, playing regularly in the Premier League for Man Utd is a very different prospect to playing for Benfica, as Ten Hag said.

The club protected themselves perfectly with the buyback and resale clause, which was the best they could have done under those circumstances.

Now they can reap the rewards, whether it be by bringing him back or selling him, which would make United more money.

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