Fernández began with the youth squads of Colo-Colo at the age of 12. His debut in the first division came on 1 August 2004, against archrival Universidad de Chile. A week later he scored his first two goals against Club de Deportes Cobresal. In the same season, "Matigol" scored a spectacular goal against C.D. O'Higgins, which immortalized him to fans.[1]
He would go on to score a total of eight goals in the 2004 Clausura, and was named best young player of the season. In the 2006 Apertura, Fernández helped Colo-Colo capture their 24th title. In December of the same year he helped it reach the final of the 2006 Southamerican Cup, where they lost to Club Pachuca of Mexico, scoring nine goals in six games for the tournament. He left Colo-Colo on a high note, winning the 2006 Clausura tournament and the South American Footballer of the Year award.
On 18 October 2006, Fernández was signed by Spanish side Villarreal CF for a fee of €8.7 million, joining compatriot Manuel Pellegrini, the club's coach.[2] The transaction was made before he received the "South American Player of the Year" award (which explains the lower price of his fee). Despite reports that Real Madrid and Chelsea were also interested, he agreed to terms with Villarreal and arrived at the Valencia airport on 27 December. On 7 January 2007, Fernández made his club debut against neighbours Valencia CF, in a 1–0 away defeat.
Despite having had a buyout clause of €50 million inserted in his contract, Fernández failed to achieve significant playing time during his first three seasons, but still contributed with 30 games and three goals in 2007–08, as Villarreal finished a club-best runner-up.
After being deemed surplus to requirements by new Villarreal coach Ernesto Valverde, Fernández moved to Sporting Clube de Portugal on a four-year contract, for €3.65 million.[3] On October 27, 2009, he scored his first goal for the club, in a 1–1 draw at Vitória de Guimarães, adding another the following week, also in the league, at home against C.S. Marítimo (again 1–1); in the UEFA Europa League, he added another, in injury time of the Lions' 3–0 win against Everton, in the competition's round of 16 (4–2 on aggregate).
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