It’s a relief for Enzo Fernandez. His transfer to Manchester City for €145 million did take place, but in the very last moments of the transfer window. However, he pushed for many weeks in this direction, even if it meant alienating Chelsea and even the locker room. This is what reveals The Telegraph in an article devoted to the Argentinian’s last weeks at his former club. We learn, for example, that the player sent two transfer requests to his management during the summer. In one of them, he justified himself by claiming that he no longer maintained relations with any of his teammates at Stamford Bridge.
Several examples are highlighted by the media. In addition to the fact that no Blues player wished him good luck on social networks, this combines with other anecdotes, such as this training photo published during the summer where he is the only one to distance himself without a smile. Mutual trust also took a hit when he began to publicly declare his desires elsewhere, after the elimination in the Champions League against PSG last spring. He was even suspended two matches for saying he wanted to live in Madrid one day. A few days later, he took a trip to the Spanish capital.
No more relationship with the rest of the locker room
His support began to become less and less numerous at the club. At the same time, negotiations have begun for a possible contract extension, and the revaluation that goes with it. He still became vice-captain of the club behind Reece James. Of course, there was never a new contract despite discussions. Fernandez did not even hide his private exchanges with Enzo Maresca… Conversely, Pedro Neto, also courted by the Skyblues, showed his attachment to the Blues and has just extended until 2032. The Portuguese joins João Pedro, but also Reece James, Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer. The frames have all been extended, except one. Next should be Levi Colwill.
However, despite the extra-sporting setbacks, Chelsea have always protected the midfielder since his arrival from Benfica in January 2023. His departure from Portugal had also given rise to some tensions, but that is another story. There was the episode of the video where we see him chanting racist songs, aimed at the players of the France team, with his teammates from the selection in the wake of Argentina’s victory at the Copa América 2024. He had apologized and made a large donation for an association as a token of forgiveness, but this had already given rise to some tensions in the locker room, with the French, but not only that.
Chelsea put pressure
The end of the season, between the elimination against PSG, his desires elsewhere declared in public and plummeting results completed the rupture within the group of players. The transfer window became an appropriate solution. Initially, the London club refused to let the order of things be dictated by the reigning vice-world champion and opposed its sale. He held on until he was awarded the highest compensation ever paid in the Premier League. Chelsea have always said that he would not have been transferred without this record amount. In the end, everyone benefits from this series.
