I still can't believe Manchester United sold Real Madrid signing without giving him a chance
Man Utd sold a number of young hopefuls in the summer transfer window but it looks like they could regret one sale already.
At a time when Manchester United are still without a recognised left-back, it is still bewildering that they allowed one to leave permanently without ever being given a chance in the first-team.
A report this week linked United with a move to buyback Alvaro Carreras, or Fernandez as he was better known during his time in the Old Trafford youth ranks, just months after he completed his permanent move to Benfica.
The Portuguese club activated their option to sign the youngster in the summer for an initial fee of just £5.1m plus an additional £2.6m in potential add-ons. It represents a bargain for a player who is now a regular in their first-team and a star in the Champions League.
United had high hopes when they signed Fernandez from Real Madrid back in 2020, but despite impressing at youth level, he was never handed a first-team debut, even at a time when they were in desperate need of left-back reinforcement.
What pains supporters most is not necessarily that the 21-year-old was sold, but that he never got a chance. A year ago, he was sent out on loan to La Liga side Granada while Sergio Reguilon arrived from Tottenham following Tyrell Malacia's initial setback. Fernandez only actually made five starts and featured in 473 minutes of league action during the initial loan-spell, but rather than recall him for their own benefit, United brought him back to then send him immediately to Benfica instead. United have now been without a recognised left-back since Luke Shaw's withdrawal at Luton back in February, and although both he and Malacia hope to be back this month, it is premature to get excited about the prospect of either of them staying fit for the rest of the campaign.
Fernandez has already made 25 appearances for Benfica and impressed during their 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last week with a mature performance. He completed 73 of his 77 attempted passes, completed all four of his attempted dribbles, made two clearances, four interceptions, eight ball recoveries and won all eight of the duels he contested.
If he can do it at that level, then he was certainly worth being a backup option at the very least at United. It would at least would have been worth giving him a chance to prove otherwise, rather than to sell him without knowing. United chiefs will no doubt point towards the buy back clause, matching rights and sell-on clause to argue they acted in the club's best interest when they sanctioned his sale, but the mere suggestion they are already being linked with him so soon after he left suggests they made a mistake.
With Harry Amass still not deemed physically ready for first-team football and Diogo Dalot the makeshift option at left-back, United might be regretting their summer sale more than ever before.