Alvaro Fernandez says he is honoured to be selected as the Manchester United under-23 player of the year.
The former Real Madrid whizkid was picked after a series of eye catching displays which have seen him called up to Manchester United’s first team squad.
The gong, also known as the Denzil Haroun Award, was won last year by Hannibal and previous winners include James Garner, Giuseppe Rossi, and Darren Fletcher.
Fernandez was presented with the award at Old Trafford this week, and this caps an excellent two years after he joined the club.
Under-23 Player of the Year
Fernandez, 19, was too old to play in the FA Youth Cup like fellow youngster Marc Jurado, but he was at Old Trafford to cheer his teammates on as they beat Nottingham Forest to win the competition.
United head of academy Nick Cox praised Fernandez and explained why he was the best candidate to win the award.
Cox told the club website: “Alvaro has been a standout performer from a really strong group of players within our Under-23s team.
“We deliberately keep this age group young and that is certainly evidenced by the fact that Alvaro has won this award despite only turning 19 in March.
“He has consistently risen to the various challenges that have been put in front of him and should be very proud of how he has adapted to English football.”
This season Fernandez has nine assists for the under-23s from left-back, a number only bettered by attacking midfielder Shola Shoretire, who has 11.
Fernandez has recently been in Manchester United’s first team squads, and if you combine Alex Telles’ poor displays, and the teenager winning the under-23 player of the year award, then there is a good chance we see him make his debut on the final day of the season against Crystal Palace.
With former Atletico Madrid talent Alejandro Garnacho winning United’s Jimmy Murphy Award, and ex-Barcelona talent Marc Jurado also part of the FA Youth Cup side, United’s triple raid on Spain on 2020 is bearing early fruit.