Ignacio Fernández · Biography

Ignacio Martín Fernández, known as Nacho Fernández, was born on 12 January 1990 in Castelli, in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. A midfielder, he came through the youth ranks at Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, where he made his top-flight debut in 2010 and to which he returned in 2026. In between he had two spells at River Plate and one at Atlético Mineiro, winning trophies in Argentina, Brazil and South America.

Early years in Dudignac and La Plata

He started out at Club Atlético y Social Dudignac, a small club near his hometown. At 13 he joined Gimnasia’s youth system, where he developed as a central midfielder. His professional debut came on 2 October 2010, a 4-2 league defeat to Argentinos Juniors. To gain experience he was loaned to Temperley in 2011-12, scoring 10 goals in 30 matches.

Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata (2010-2016)

Back in La Plata he became a regular. He scored his first Primera División goal on 17 August 2013 in a 3-1 win over Rosario Central. In 2015 he was the club’s top scorer with nine goals. His first spell with Gimnasia ended with 116 appearances and 17 goals.

River Plate (2016-2021)

On 7 January 2016 he signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with River Plate, who paid US$2.1 million for 70% of his economic rights. He made his first appearance on 24 January 2016 in a preseason Superclásico won 1-0 against Boca Juniors. Under Marcelo Gallardo he became a fixture in midfield. On 9 December 2017 he scored the winner in the 2-1 victory over Atlético Tucumán in the 2016-17 Copa Argentina final. In the 2018 Copa Libertadores he played 12 of the 14 matches, including both finals against Boca, and set up Lucas Pratto’s equaliser in the second leg. On 30 May 2019 he opened the scoring in the second leg of the Recopa Sudamericana against Athletico Paranaense, and on 13 December 2019 he scored again in a Copa Argentina final, a 3-0 win over Central Córdoba. He left with 174 appearances and 26 goals in all competitions.

Atlético Mineiro (2021-2022)

On 20 February 2021 he joined Atlético Mineiro on a three-year contract for a reported US$6 million. He debuted on 19 March 2021 in a 3-0 Campeonato Mineiro win over Coimbra. That year he recorded 10 goals and 11 assists in 52 matches as the club won the 2021 Brazilian Série A and the 2021 Copa do Brasil, and he received the 2021 Bola de Prata. In 2022 he added the Supercopa do Brasil and a second Campeonato Mineiro. He finished his time in Belo Horizonte with 109 appearances and 19 goals.

Second spell at River (2023-2025)

River announced his return on 22 December 2022. In his second spell he won the 2023 Argentine Primera División and played 89 league matches, scoring 10 goals. Across both spells he totalled 315 matches and 42 goals for the club. His contract expired in December 2025 and was not renewed.

Argentina national team

Jorge Sampaoli called him up for the June 2017 tour. He made his senior debut on 13 June 2017 in Singapore, a 6-0 friendly win over the hosts, coming on in the 75th minute and assisting one of Ángel Di María’s goals. It remained his only cap.

Playing style and honours

A box-to-box midfielder with a sharp through ball and a knack for arriving late in the area, he played both centrally and on the left of midfield. With River he won the 2018 Copa Libertadores, the Recopa Sudamericana in 2016 and 2019, the 2023 Primera División, the Copa Argentina in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2018-19 and the 2017 Supercopa Argentina. With Atlético Mineiro he won the 2021 Série A and Copa do Brasil, the Campeonato Mineiro in 2021 and 2022 and the 2022 Supercopa do Brasil. He was named in the 2019 Copa Libertadores Team of the Tournament and the South American Team of the Year in 2019 and 2020. On 20 December 2025 he announced his return to Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, where he has played since 2026.