---
title: "Benitez reveals why he signed Federico Fernandez"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2018/08/11/benitez-reveals-why-he-signed-federico-fernandez/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Sam Brown"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2018-08-11T10:35:33Z"
modified: "2018-08-11T10:38:20Z"
---

# Benitez reveals why he signed Federico Fernandez

Rafael Benitez has revealed why he splashed £6 million on Federico Fernandez on transfer deadline day.

The Argentine was snapped up from recently relegated Swansea for a relatively cheap price, given his 117 Premier League appearances.

Magpies fans had been frustrated with their transfer window, as deal after deal seemed to fall through for a variety of reasons.

![Tony Marshall/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readnewcastle.com/readnewcastle/sites/20/2018/08/930108382.jpg)

Benitez was able to bring in a defender in Fernandez however, and was thankful for the opportunity to add the 29-year-old to his squad.

[Speaking to The Chronicle,](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/rafa-benitez-comments-whether-newcastles-15015905) Benitez said:

> There are some areas where we need luck because, if we have injuries, we will have some problems.

> We have to manage in the meantime to see if we can fix the problems, but we have to wait because you cannot do everything that you want to do now.

> You have to be sure that the players you have can play in different positions. If you have a problem there, maybe you can use a different one.

Fernandez has received 72 caps for Argentina, in a career that has seen spells at Estudiantes, Napoli, and Getafe, before his move to South Wales in 2014.