After what has happened over the last few weeks, it feels like Enzo Fernandez has one foot out of the Stamford Bridge exit door already. It would be a surprise if he did not. The Argentine midfielder refused to rule out a move away from Chelsea when asked about it after the second leg against PSG. In a recent interview, he named Madrid as the city he would like to live in someday. And now, Liam Rosenior has confirmed that he will be left out of the Blues’ next two games.
That must not have been an easy decision to take. The club have been on a four-game losing run. They have scored in their last three outings. Enzo Fernandez remains one of their best players and an outlet for goals.
He also has a contract until 2032. The issue, that means little in modern football. When players want to leave, they often end up getting their wish.
After recent events, the Chelsea hierarchy might not be completely against Fernandez’s exit either. He looks like a player who has lost his trust in the process. And he cannot be blamed for it. After four years of BlueCo, most fans have as well. The issue is, the Blues might have a tough time finding a new home for the Argentine for the kind of transfer fee they would want.
Real Madrid’s stance on signing Enzo Fernandez should worry Chelsea
If Fernandez does end up leaving Chelsea, Real Madrid are viewed as his most likely destination. Los Blancos have been linked with the midfielder going back to his days at Benfica. And did he just randomly name the Spanish capital in that interview as a city he would want to live in?
According to a report from Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian, Chelsea are unimpressed with Fernandez and some believe it would not be a disaster if he does leave. But Spanish sources say Real Madrid are not about to pay £100 million.
Where does this leave Fernandez?
So, even if Real Madrid are interested in Fernandez, it does not look like they would be willing to pay a nine-figure transfer fee to sign him. That should not come as a surprise, to be honest. When was the last time Los Blancos shelled out that kind of money?
Fernandez is a brilliant player. There is no doubt about that. The likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and PSG are all said to hold an interest in him. That being said, how many would be willing to meet Chelsea’s asking price?
All signs point to Fernandez leaving in the summer. Yet, engineering an exit might not be simple. But at the same time, what is the benefit of Chelsea keeping a player who might no longer want to be here?
This feels like a lose-lose situation for Chelsea. The BlueCo project might be starting to crumble right in front of their eyes. A lot of people had predicted this though. Top players are not going to wait for an indefinite amount of time for your plans to work out.
