Sports and Recreation

Man Utd star sold for ‘peanuts’ in summer now wanted by Real Madrid and Barcelona

Alvaro Fernandez was allowed to leave Manchester United for £5m in the summer but La Liga’s big two are interested in a transfer for the full back following impressive run of form with Benfica

Barcelona and Real Madrid are both interested in making a move for Alvaro Fernandez, the full back who Manchester United let go for only £5million last summer.

Now at Benfica, the 21-year-old has impressed to the extent that the Spanish giants have had their interest piqued.

Fernandez joined the Lisbon club on loan halfway through last season and they triggered a clause to make the deal permanent for a fee described as peanuts at the time by disgruntled United fans. And Portuguese daily O Jogo have reported that Barca and Real are looking at Fernandez, who has played every minute of Benfica’s past seven games.

But United are understood to have a buy-back clause that could see Fernandez return to Old Trafford instead for a fee.

Under pressure Erik ten Hag has been left with a shortage of options at full back because of injury and the Dutchman could have done with Fernandez. Left backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia remain long-term absentees, meaning Diogo Dalot has shifted across from the right side of defence. Yet Noussair Mazraoui is also set for a spell on the sidelines after undergoing minor surgery for a heart issue earlier this week.

United have taken just eight points from their first seven league games and only newly promoted Southampton have scored fewer goals.

A board meeting at INEOS headquarters in London on Tuesday failed to yield a conclusive decision around Ten Hag’s future. But he is still in the last chance saloon with the rest of October set to be decisive.