Alvaro Fernandez has made it clear that he is content at Benfica, shrugging off speculation about a potential return to Manchester United in the summer transfer window. The Spanish left-back, who left Real Madrid’s academy to join United in 2020, has flourished in Portugal since making a permanent switch last season.
The 21-year-old had struggled to break into United’s senior squad, leading to loan spells at Preston, Granada, and Benfica. However, his standout displays in Lisbon convinced Benfica to sign him for around €6 million (£5m) midway through last season, giving him the opportunity to secure regular first-team football.
Since joining the Portuguese side permanently, Fernandez has become an integral part of Bruno Lage’s squad, featuring in 36 matches across all competitions. His strong performances have drawn attention from United, who still hold a €20 million (£16.5m) buy-back clause and are closely monitoring his progress ahead of the summer.
Alongside United’s interest, Fernandez has reportedly attracted attention from Barcelona and his former club, Real Madrid. However, the Spain U21 international remains focused on his current role at Benfica and insists he is happy in his current surroundings.
“The truth is that I’m overlooking it a bit,” Fernandez told A Bola when asked about the transfer speculation. “I’m concentrating on what I have to do because I have a game every three days. There’s always interest from teams, and everyone wants to grow, but I’m doing very well here at Benfica. Manchester United have a buy option, but I’m very happy here.”
United’s interest in Fernandez comes as Ruben Amorim prepares for a squad overhaul in the summer. The club recently brought in Patrick Dorgu from Lecce to strengthen the left-back position, but the 20-year-old has faced early challenges, including a red card in United’s 3-2 loss to Ipswich.
With Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot also available on the left side of defense, and Tyrell Malacia set to return from his loan spell at PSV Eindhoven, United have multiple options in the position. However, Fernandez’s continued rise could make him a tempting prospect if the club decides to trigger its buy-back clause.
For now, Fernandez remains fully focused on Benfica’s season, with crucial matches ahead, including their Champions League last-16 clash with Barcelona. While United may weigh up a summer move, the young full-back seems in no rush to leave his current club.