As I watched Chile’s 1 – 0 victory over Honduras earlier today, a player I have long admired appeared to completely run the show in the centre of the park. Matías Fernández is a small, creative attacking midfielder. He is an ex Villarreal player who now plies his trade in the Portuguese league with Sporting CP after he signed for just over 3 million pounds in 2009.
Fernandez also known as “El Pelusa” one of the nicknames that the brilliant Maradona held, was named South American player of the year back in 2006 – quite a feat considering the talent on show within South America, not to mention he was only 20 at the time! Matias is now at the tender age of 24 and is a regular in the Chilean national team. He’s a free-kick specialist and plays in the hole between the midfield and the attack.
As I watched on, I was very impressed with Fernandez and in particular Chile as a team – who finished 2nd in South American qualifying and are very pleasing on the eye in terms of playing style. Fernandez gave Honduras many a problem constantly picking up the ball and along with Vidal dominating the play. He had a part to play in Chile’s only goal playing in a perfectly weighted pass to cut open the Honduran defence for Isla to cross. In my opinion, Fernandez would be the answer to the creative speak we need and would be an ideal signing for United at an affordable price.
The 21 year old Chilean winger Alexis Sánchez who currently plays for Udinese also looked like he could be some talent. He possesses a great deal of pace and trickery and was a real live wire throughout the game.
Hopefully this World Cup competition will throw up some more talent and give Sir Alex Ferguson options if he does choose to buy in this summer’s transfer market.
Sorry for the three part post..bloody computers?!
I have to disagree with a few of you people. Sanchez is a good player but we would have to spend atleast 20 million and considering we have Nani, Valencia, Park etc i dont think he would bring muc different. Fernandez however i reckon we could get for about 7 million and he would be ideal for those games where SAF plays a 3 man midfield with rooney up and 2 wide men. Let fletcher, carrick, hargreaves et al do the leg work and this lad could be our creative spark. Plus he barely put a set piece wrong. He was bang on with his delivery.
South American player of the year in 2006, then he moved to europe and did sod all!! He’s a decent player, might get into wigan’s team if he’s lucky but to suggest he could play for united at his current level is laughable, hundreds of midfielders better than him out there!!! We need a top creative midfielder but im not sure fergie see’s it that way, doubt he’ll sign any midfielders tbh…
I’d side with Andy and Tom on this one. Chile seem to create and incredible unity which elevates the quality of virtually every player. But if we’re looking at who may fit in with United, it would be best to look at the Chilean players’ club history.
I’d agree that Villareal are a way lower tier than United, so if Mati was put on loan from them (and at 23-24 y.o.) that should be a HUGE concern.
I won’t write him off, but he’d have to produce outside of the national squad before I’d want him in the team.
It seems as though we all have split opinions which is what Journalism is all about. In my opinion Matias’s set pieces were on the mark every time. Try and find me a delivery that failed to bea the first man?! I personally think we are missing a creative player and Matias Fernandez is young enough and has the potential to play along with better players at United and shine.
Jamie, for a free kick specialist it is not difficult to beat the first man, his free kick taking was average.
Beckham was a specialist.
Ok whatever you say :/