Manchester City are already looking ahead to life after Kyle Walker—and the newest name on their radar for the future is 18-year-old Benfica teenager Martim Fernandes. The right-back has impressed City scouts in a breakthrough season in Portugal. He is currently reportedly being viewed as an alternative top target if a deal to sign Newcastle’s Tino Livramento fails.
City’s quest to find a long-term replacement for Walker, who will be 35 next season, has been ongoing for a while. Though Livramento has been a prime target. Newcastle’s asking price of more than £51 million has reportedly stalled the deal. Consequently, City have now set their sights on Fernandes. An exciting young player with technical ability and top-level potential.
According to several reports, City believe Fernandes is the ideal man for their tactical formation and long-term plan. His age, ceiling for development, and playing style are seen as ideal for a Pep Guardiola team that wants intelligent, attack-minded full-backs.
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Martim Fernandes is regarded as perhaps the most gifted young centre-back in Europe. He became a regular with Benfica last season. He since has made a splash with his confident performances in domestic and youth-level European competition. Only 18, he has demonstrated exceptional ball control, keen defensive sense, and the stamina to overlap repeatedly—skills Guardiola demands from his full-backs.
Contrary to conventional right-backs, Fernandes does not mind inverting to midfield when required, something that City tend to place their wide defenders to do. He is also adaptable, having featured on both wings and even in midfield positions in his early days.
Not only does he have a high defensive work rate. His technical quality is also impressive. He distributes the ball well, plays at the right tempo, and can cut open lines with quick one-twos or diagonal switches. His close control is well beyond his years, and he rarely ever panics under duress.
Although raw, he is the kind of profile City tend to look for—young, malleable, and able to cope with their demanding system.
💙🇦🇷 El Diablito Claudio Echeverri scores his first goal for Manchester City…
…and it’s a beautiful free kick. 📐 pic.twitter.com/gLUMBnAiMf
Kyle Walker has been a stalwart at Manchester City since 2017. But hardly no one waits for anyone. Even though he remains an elite operator, the club is aware that it needs to look ahead. Since the departure of Joao Cancelo and Rico Lewis still learning the ropes. City need to reinforce the right-back role both in the present and future.
Tino Livramento was originally the favorite. His Premier League pedigree and combination of physicality and technical ability make him a perfect fit. Newcastle’s insistence and price tag, though, have made City reconsider. Exceeding £50 million for someone with recent injury issues is risky.
That’s where Fernandes steps in. Not only would he be much cheaper. But his long-term potential might even surpass Livramento’s if given proper care. City’s scouting division is said to think Fernandes has the potential to become a world-class full-back in the hands of Guardiola.
No official offer has been made thus far, but the desire is fierce. Benfica have a history of churning out elite players—and City’s Portuguese connections might make it easier to discuss.
It would be wise to think that Martim Fernandes might be a intelligent, progressive signing for City. He has the type of technical and tactical potential that is suited to Guardiola’s transforming model. As Walker is getting close to the end of his career. City need not just replace his pace but re-engineer the position. Fernandes can provide the opportunity. It is not merely about filling the void—it’s about shaping the next group.
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