Benfica are set to secure the services of Manchester United defender Alvaro Fernandez on loan with a mandatory buy clause, according to Record (page 8).
The left-back spent the first half of the current campaign on loan with Granada. He has now been given permission to travel to Benfica to undergo his medical.
The Portuguese champions have agreed to sign the 20-year-old on a temporary deal until the summer. They have an obligation to buy him for €8 million.
No other clauses have been specified by Record. The publication claim that the Red Devils graduate will have his medical and sign his contract later today.
Benfica will start paying the fee from the 2024/25 season.
United set to lose Fernandez to Benfica
Fernandez has been described as one of the best young talents in the academy, but he has been unable to break into the first-team plans due to the strong competition.
Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia can all play in the left-back position. Fernandez has probably made the right decision during the development phase of his career.
There have been claims that United could include a possible sell-on clause and it is left to be seen whether that has been agreed as part of the defender’s transfer.
A buy-back option would also be ideal for the Red Devils but it seems unlikely. Fernandez should be guaranteed with regular starts at Benfica this term as they chase another title.
Only time will tell whether United have made the right choice. If Fernandez goes on to become a world-beater at Benfica and moves on to a bigger club, it would be a decision to regret.