Manchester United fans are less than impressed with the club after seeing Alvaro Fernandez show his quality in the Champions League.
Manchester United are currently without a fit left-back as Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia battle injury issues which have kept them sidelined for most of the past 12 months.
Last season Erik ten Hag decided to sign Sergio Reguilon on a short-term loan, and send Alvaro Fernandez away on loan.
The promising youngster ended up signing permanently with Benfica in the summer for just £5 million, and now he is starring in the Champions League.
Alvaro Fernandez big Champions League performance
Alvaro Fernandez has established himself as a starter for Benfica this season, making a mockery of Manchester United’s decision to sell him.
This week he starred as Benfica thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League.
It was a statement victory from the Portuguese side, and underlined the quality the 21-year-old had to offer.
Manchester United fans on Alvaro Fernandez
Manchester United supporters are not impressed with the club’s decision-making which has led to Alvaro Fernandez’s exit, while the club struggle without a left-back.
One supporter wrote: “Can’t believe we sold this Alvaro Fernandez for peanuts while we employ Shaw and Malacia.”
A second fan added: “I kept telling people selling Alvaro Fernandez was a massive mistake. We had him, right there. But no, the club still preferred Shaw. Where’s Shaw now then? Yip, still on the sidelines. Ridiculous.”
A third wrote: “Why did we sell Alvaro Fernandez? We need him.”
Another fan pointed out this was not the only decision United got wrong: “Ten Hag not giving Alvaro Fernandez a chance when we had no left backs fit and Ole not giving Gomes a chance in 2019 when we desperately needed midfield creativity – two dumbest decisions.”
And another blasted: “I knew we’d regret this, Stevie Wonder could see we’d regret this, with Shaw and Malacia literally injured at the time what were @ManUtd thinking selling Alvaro Fernandez? A much better option at LB than Dalot.”
A further comment read: “Genuinely depressed seeing Alvaro Fernandez at Benfica. We loaned Reguilon last season, and have come into this season with no left back again. Criminal the kid wasn’t AT LEAST given a chance, especially when he’s clearly good enough.”
And another fan wrote: “I watched Benfica play yesterday and my goodness whoever said it was okay to sell Alvaro Fernandez should be sacked right away.”
Manchester United made bad move
Benfica added a £42 million release clause into Alvaro Fernandez’s contract as soon as he signed for the club.
United fans were annoyed when he was sold, and the viewpoint has not changed.
Fernandez won the Denzil Haroun reserve player of the year award in 2021/22, making the bench under Ralf Rangnick, but did then not quite get as far as making his debut.
To sell him without making a first team appearance was a clear error, especially considering Manchester United’s weakness at the position.
Harry Amass is a strong option for the future, yet the decision has so far been made that he is not ready now.
Fernandez has proven he is ready now, and Manchester United need a left-back now.
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