Man Utd will prioritise player sales in the summer transfer window and they will also benefit from some earlier exits.
There was an element of outrage when Manchester United sold Alvaro Fernandez a year ago. It came at a time when United were in need of a new option at left-back but yet they allowed one of their most promising youngsters to leave the club without being given a proper chance.
The 22-year-old never made a senior appearance during his time at Old Trafford, but he has made 64 since he joined Portuguese giants Benfica. Fernandez, or Carreras as he is now better known, has risen to the challenge of professional football and excelled in the process. He is now expected to leave Benfica this summer, and it has been reported Real Madrid could trigger his £42 million release.
It might sound like a massive mistake from United that they let him leave a year ago. Instead, it could be a masterstroke that hands Ruben Amorim a handsome windfall to spend in the summer transfer window.
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Real Madrid could hand Manchester United a huge boost
Benfica paid Manchester United €6 million plus committed a further €3 million in potential add-ons to sign Alvaro Fernandez Carreras from last summer. It felt like a fairly low fee for a player of such potential, but United protected their interests when they negotiated a large sell-on clause and a buy-back option into the deal.
United have until next summer to activate their buy-back option for £16 million, though they are expected to profit even more from the sell-on clause that was included in his sale. It is understood United would receive somewhere between 40% and 50% of his future fee, meaning they could earn between £16.8 million and £20 million if a team were to trigger his Benfica release clause this summer.
It would be a huge boost to United's own transfer plans and only further vindicate their 'smarter' youth policy, which has seen the club become a lot more ruthless regarding academy graduates. United staff have suspected some players are going "stale and sour" if they stay at the club too long without getting an opportunity to play, and it would be better for all parties if they were moved on.
When it comes to transfer fees, United still look to get a fair price for their players where possible, but are also happy for the real value of a deal to be made up with future sell-on fees or buyback clauses. Though the initial fees might look a little underwhelming at times, it only takes one hefty transfer fee to be paid for United to land a significant windfall, such as in the case of Fernandez.
United could make even more money off their academy if they really wanted to, but they are keen to strike the appropriate balance between nurturing young talent and the harsh business side of football that sees every individual as a market asset. In a summer when Fernandez and Mason Greenwood could both be on the move, it is a transfer strategy that is hard to argue against.
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