Alvaro Fernandez impressed last season on loan at Championship side Preston North End, but the young Spaniard wants to stay at Manchester United next season to continue working under Erik ten Hag.
The 20-year-old was a favourite among the Preston fans last term when he was named the club’s Young Player of the Year, and he had stood on in United’s pre-season games this summer.
Preston and other second-tier clubs were keen to sign Fernandez on loan this summer, but he is hoping to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place in the first team.
At the same time, Fernandez has made it clear that if he is to leave United on loan before the new season, he’ll want to join a team in a “top league”, which is understandable for a young lad looking to prove himself.
“Hopefully I can stay in the United first team,” he told AS. “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 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 didn’t rule out a return to his homeland when asked by the Spanish publication, after previously spending 3 years in the Real Madrid youth system.
“In the end, I have been away [from Spain] for a few years,” he added. “That’s fine, but there’s always that spark to return. I’m great in England, it’s the truth, but there is always that door open to return to Spain in the future.”
The left-back will be competing for a place with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia if he stays at United. That means Ten Hag has a big decision to make because Fernandez needs to be playing football.
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