Enzo Fernandez has been suspended for two games by Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior. The decision followed comments in which Fernandez said he does not know if he will be at Chelsea next season after their Champions League exit to PSG. According to Daily Mirror - Sport, Enzo Fernandez described his uncertainty about staying, while according to Daily Mail - Sport, he also expressed a desire to live in Madrid, comparing it to his hometown of Buenos Aires.
Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica for £107 million in 2023, a high-profile transfer that placed significant expectations on the Argentine. This season, he has registered 12 goals and six assists across 45 appearances. Last month, according to www.goal.com, Enzo Fernandez described being happy with how things were going, expressing pride in his time at the club, a sentiment that contrasts sharply with his recent remarks.
I don't know. There are eight matches left and the FA Cup. Then there's the World Cup and then we'll see.
Manager Liam Rosenior explained the suspension, stating that a line was crossed regarding the club's culture and what they want to build. Rosenior said Fernandez will not be available for the match against Port Vale in the FA Cup or against Manchester City next Sunday. He added that he was disappointed with how Fernandez expressed himself, and that the decision to suspend him was a joint one by Rosenior and the rest of the leadership. However, Rosenior also noted the door is not closed for Enzo Fernandez to return eventually, and separately stated that Fernandez is fully committed to Chelsea after clarifying his comments. Rosenior downplayed the significance of Fernandez's initial remarks, saying he had not seen them and needs to focus on the Everton game.
According to The Telegraph, teammates are irritated with Enzo Fernandez. The same source reports that teammates are dissatisfied with Fernandez for yelling at teammates on the pitch, raging in the dressing room, and giving vague answers about his future at the club.
I don’t know, there are eight games left and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup and then we’ll see.
Fernandez's agent, Javier Pastore, has defended the player. According to Daily Express - Sport, Javier Pastore described the suspension as completely unfair.
The unrest at Chelsea extends beyond Fernandez. Midfielder Moises Caicedo, who joined Chelsea from Brighton for £115 million in 2023, refused to rule out a future move to Real Madrid, saying you never know in football, according to Daily Mail - Sport. Defender Marc Cucurella, who joined from Brighton for up to £63 million in 2022, suggested he could leave Chelsea for a return to La Liga, possibly Barcelona, according to Daily Mirror - Main.
I don't know if I will be at Chelsea next season.
Cucurella has also publicly criticized Chelsea's transfer policy, according to Daily Mail - Sport. In response, manager Liam Rosenior held a meeting with Cucurella after his criticism, according to multiple reports.
In light of these challenges, Chelsea are considering tweaking their transfer policy to include more proven players rather than just young talent, according to Rosenior. The club has also hired several staff from the Kinetic Academy, including Calum McFarlane, Harry Hudson, Dan Hogan, and Joe Shields, according to multiple reports.
I would like to live in Madrid, comparing it to Buenos Aires.
Financially, Chelsea sold players like Noni Madueke, Renato Veiga, and Carney Chukwuemeka for profits last summer, according to multiple reports. For Fernandez specifically, River Plate is due 5% of any future transfer fee based on a deal from his sale to Benfica, according to multiple reports.
Enzo Fernandez has been reported to be of interest to other clubs, such as Real Madrid and PSG. He is under contract with Chelsea until 2032, but speculation around his future continues with reported interest from clubs including Real Madrid, according to multiple reports.
Completely unfair.
At Real Madrid, one of the clubs linked with Fernandez, coach Alvaro Arbeloa said he has maximum confidence in Kylian Mbappe ahead of the derby against Atletico Madrid. Mbappe returned from a knee sprain as a substitute against Manchester City on Tuesday after missing five games. Arbeloa added that he was excited to have Kylian Mbappe back at 100 percent, along with fit-again Jude Bellingham, and that both players will be in Real Madrid's squad for Sunday's La Liga game against Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. Arbeloa noted that Mbappe is in great shape based on his performance against Manchester City, and that the forward is Real Madrid's top goalscorer this season with 38 goals in 34 games across all competitions. He also expressed happiness that the French national team have called up Mbappe for matches against Brazil and Colombia next week in the United States.
In other Real Madrid updates, England coach Thomas Tuchel called up Jude Bellingham for international duty even though the midfielder has not played since February 1 because of a hamstring injury. The club will be without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is set to miss several weeks with a thigh injury. Arbeloa said he has faith in replacement goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, calling him another outstanding goalkeeper.
You never know in football.
Chelsea's current challenges are compounded by their recent Champions League exit; they were knocked out of the competition by PSG with an 8-2 aggregate defeat. Their night was further complicated by injury concerns with Trelland Chalibur forced off, adding to existing issues, according to multiple reports.
Despite these setbacks, Chelsea's priority is securing a top-four finish to ensure Champions League qualification, according to multiple reports. According to www.dailymotion.com, Enzo Fernandez insisted the focus must now shift to finishing the season strongly with domestic objectives still to play for.
I could leave Chelsea for a return to La Liga, possibly Barcelona.
External commentators have weighed in on the Chelsea situation. According to Metro - Main, Emmanuel Petit described Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, and Cole Palmer as tired of Chelsea's project and considering moves. According to Daily Mail - Sport, John Obi Mikel described Enzo Fernandez's comments as disrespectful to Chelsea.
In related news, Borussia Dortmund have extended Emre Can's contract by one season until 2027 as he recovers from an ACL injury, according to multiple reports. At Tottenham, defender Cristian Romero cast doubt on his Tottenham future, similar to Enzo Fernandez, according to Daily Mirror - Football.
Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, and Cole Palmer are tired of Chelsea's project and considering moves.
Enzo Fernandez's comments are disrespectful to Chelsea.
I cast doubt on my Tottenham future, similar to Enzo Fernandez.
A line was crossed regarding the club's culture and what they want to build.
Fernandez will not be available for the match against Port Vale in the FA Cup or against Manchester City next Sunday.
I was disappointed with how Fernandez expressed himself.
The door is not closed for Enzo Fernandez to return eventually.
I am happy with how things are going.
I had not seen them and need to focus on the Everton game.
I will assess my situation at the end of the campaign and acknowledged Chelsea failed to manage key moments against PSG.
The focus must now shift to finishing the season strongly with domestic objectives still to play for.