'Blown away' - inside Alvaro Fernandez's Benfica rise as Manchester United face transfer regret

Ask any Manchester United supporter what the club's biggest problem position is and the chances are most of them will say left-back without a moment's hesitation.

United have been plagued by left-back troubles for more than a year, with Luke Shaw making just 15 appearances since the start of last season and Tyrell Malacia not kicking a ball in United colours since May 2023. It meant the prospect of Alvaro Fernandez making progress at Benfica this season was inevitably going to lead to questions being asked of United's decision to let him go.

He joined the Portuguese club on a permanent deal in June after they triggered a €6million option in his loan deal at the Estadio da Luz. The left-back, who United have the option to re-sign via a buy-back clause, is quickly making a name for himself, racking up nine appearances so far this season, seven of which have been starts. His standout performance was during Benfica's 4-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid in the Champions League earlier this month.

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Producing an accomplished showing with and without the ball, it left United fans ruing what might have been with many suggesting he may have been the answer to their ongoing left-back struggles. And for Portuguese football expert Tom Kundert, the 21-year-old's performance against Atletico made it easy to understand why.

Kundert, who covers Portuguese football for PortuGOAL.net and has been based in Lisbon for 30 years, told the Manchester Evening News: "I was in the stadium that night and I must admit I was blown away by his performance. Benfica as a whole played really well, but he was