Two giants of European football are preparing to make a bold move for Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea’s record signing, whose future at Stamford Bridge is increasingly uncertain.
In the recent clash against Manchester United in the Premier League’s 10th round, coach Enzo Maresca did not include Enzo Fernandez in the starting lineup, opting for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia due to their preferred fitness levels. This decision raises significant questions about Fernandez’s future at the club.
Sources indicate that the 2022 World Cup champion is determined to fight for his starting position at Chelsea. However, there are rumors that he does not intend to sit on the bench for months if he continues to be overlooked at Stamford Bridge. For this reason, Inter Milan and Barcelona, two of the giants in European football, are closely monitoring Fernandez’s situation.
The midfielder has faced considerable criticism since Chelsea signed him from Benfica for a record-breaking £107 million in 2023. TalkSPORT host Rory Jennings recently stated that Fernandez “should no longer play for Chelsea” and that he might be the “worst” signing in Premier League history.
Coach Maresca has publicly expressed empathy for the challenges Fernandez faces in justifying the price Chelsea paid, especially considering the personal upheaval the player is experiencing. The 23-year-old recently ended his childhood relationship with Valentina Cervantes, despite them having a daughter and a son together.
Before Chelsea’s match last weekend, Maresca stated, “They are also human, and if you pay £100 million, that’s not my issue. If you want to buy me, you have to pay that amount. It doesn’t mean you have to be the best player in every game. They are just footballers and cannot always perform at the highest level. Right now, Enzo is not playing, but there’s no issue with him. The talk about Enzo comes from clubs paying a lot of money for them, and people expect them to always be the best. But that’s not the reality. The only reason he isn’t playing is that Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia are fitter.”