Manchester United youngster Alvaro Fernandez is considering a loan move to a top-tier league and is focused on progressing further ahead of the upcoming season.
The 20-year-old is highly regarded as one of the finest young talents to emerge from the Red Devils’ youth system. However, it remains uncertain whether he will be included in manager Erik ten Hag’s plans for the upcoming season.
Fernandez is seeking opportunities for regular first-team football and is open to the possibility of a loan move to a higher-level league to further his development.
Luke Shaw currently holds the starting left-back position for United, and Tyrell Malacia is expected to serve as his backup once he returns from injury, which kept him out of the US tour.
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In an exclusive interview with AS, Fernandez expressed his hope of remaining with United’s first team. However, he is also open to the possibility of going out on loan to gain more playing time and experience.
The former Real Madrid youth player mentioned that he has caught the attention of Championship teams, including Preston, but his preference is to join a top-tier league for his loan spell.
He said:
“Hopefully I can stay in the United first team. If it doesn’t happen and I have to go out on loan, then keep working hard and keep growing. I am 20 years old and what I want is to play. But if it can be at United, much better.”
“I have been called [by] great Championship teams. And Preston wanted to continue counting on me. But in the case of going out on loan, I would say that the time has come to go to a top league. Not to say directly the Premier League or La Liga.”
Fernandez is keen on exploring opportunities that would allow him to further his development at a higher level of competition.
The Spaniard encountered an early ankle injury during his loan tenure at Preston last season, but he made an impressive recovery and became a crucial player for the club.
Throughout the season, he notched six assists in 42 appearances across all competitions for Preston. His performance showcased his defensive capabilities, with an average of 1.7 tackles and 4.9 duels won per game in the Championship.
Playing in the left wing-back position for most of the campaign, his passing accuracy stood at 69 per cent, which can be understood due to the different roles he played.
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Despite impressing in three pre-season games for United, Fernandez is expected to be loaned out again, assuming Malacia returns to full fitness next month.
A potential high-profile loan move might be in the cards, with Eredivisie or Bundesliga being possible destinations that could suit his development. Securing guaranteed playing time would be a crucial factor in any loan agreement.
A successful loan spell in a top-flight league next season could lead to a significant decision for manager Erik ten Hag regarding Fernandez’s future ahead of the 2024/25 season.
