Manchester United’s ongoing issues at left-back have been well documented in recent years. While Luke Shaw’s talent is undeniable, his fitness problems severely limited him to just 12 Premier League appearances last season. Meanwhile, Tyrell Malacia, who was brought in as Shaw’s backup in 2022, has been sidelined for an astonishing 16 months due to a knee injury.
These challenges have forced manager Erik ten Hag to deploy Diogo Dalot out of position at left-back this season. However, Dalot, who is naturally a right-back, is expected to return to his preferred role against Brentford, as right-back Noussair Mazraoui faces time out due to injury.
Amid these difficulties, many fans were surprised when United sold promising young left-back Álvaro Fernández to Benfica last summer. Fernández, who had long been tipped to break into United’s first team, moved to Benfica after the Portuguese side triggered a £6 million option to buy following a successful loan spell.
Since his move, Fernández has flourished in Portugal, even delivering a standout performance in Benfica’s recent 4-0 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid. His impressive form has attracted interest from top clubs like Real Madrid and Liverpool, both of which could activate the £50 million release clause in his contract.
Despite losing Fernández, United still have the option to bring him back to Old Trafford. The club inserted a buy-back clause in his deal with Benfica, allowing them to re-sign the Spaniard for £16.4 million before 2026. Although this is a significant increase from the £6 million they received from his sale, it is still well below his current market value, making a potential return a viable option.
With United’s left-back problems showing no signs of easing, the possibility of re-signing Fernández could offer a timely solution to their defensive woes.
