Argentina international is enjoying a strong run of form for the west London side
Valentina Cervantes announced the couple's split at the end of October
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By TAMARA PRENN
Published: 06:51 EST, 3 December 2024 | Updated: 06:51 EST, 3 December 2024
Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez's now-signature goal celebration could be linked to the midfielder's new love interest, internet sleuths believe.
The Argentina international found the back of the net in blue against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, in a continuation of the fine form that has seen him score or register an assist in four consecutive matches for Chelsea across all competitions.
Fernandez's start to the season could not have come under a darker sign, with the player in danger of sanctions after livestreaming his Argentina team-mates singing a racist song in the wake of their Copa America this summer.
The 23-year-old also received a driving ban and £3,000 fine in September, and is thought to have separated from his childhood sweetheart, Valentina Cervantes, with whom he shares two children, Olivia and Benjamin, at the end of October.
But amid a pleasingly purple patch on the pitch, online commenters believe Fernandez is attributing his success in front of goal to his new relationship.
After scoring against Villa, Fernandez made the same phone-call gesture has he did after scoring at the King Power Stadium against Leicester one week earlier.
Enzo Fernandez celebrated his goal against Aston Villa with his increasingly ubiquitous phone call gesture
Fans online have linked the new celebration to his allegedly budding romance with Nicki Nicole
Fernandez split with the mother of his children, childhood sweetheart Valentina Cervantes less than two months ago
And fans of the midfielder have connected the celebration with a budding relationship with Argentine rapper-singer Nicki Nicole - who has a popular song released in 2023 called Llamame (Call Me).
Neither Nicole nor Fernandez has not yet commented on the allegedly budding romance, but as per La Nacion, the pair are believed to have met at the end of October at Buenos Aires nightclub Moby Dick.
Fernandez is believed to have separated from Cervantes before the beginning of his relationship with Nicole, but the pair were filmed talking in the nightclub on TikTok - although shortly after the video went viral, Nicole shared a comment which stated that she had attended the party with 'the person (she is) currently dating'.
As per the outlet, Nicole - who has a staggering 22.6million Instagram followers - is thought to have previously dated Formula One prospect Franco Colapinto.
Cervantes - who followed Fernandez to west London upon the signing of his then-landmark £106million contract with Chelsea in January 2023 - was the party to announce their split on Instagram, writing that the former couple would 'always be family and support each other through everything.'
'I know the person and excellent father Enzo is, and the heart he has,' Cervantes' post continued. 'And that's enough for me.
'They don't want to create wars where there aren't any.'
Cervantes had a similarly compassionate view of the break-up a month later when she appeared on Argentine television programme LAM, sharing that her background as a child of separated parents had shaped her mature perspective.
Fernandez also used the celebration after scoring against Leicester at the King Power Stadium
Nicole is a singer-rapper in their native Argentina and released a song called Lllamame in 2023
The popstar has a staggering 22.6million Instagram followers and is thought to have previously dated Formula One star Franco Colapinto
'Everyone takes it and goes through different processes, I tried to go for the healthier side,' Cervantes told reporter Alejandro Castelo. 'I love Enzo, I would never disrespect him.
'He is a person who accompanied me for many years and I also accompanied him, and I will continue to accompany him.'
Adding that she was 'comfortable' with her current relationship status as single, Cervantes explained that the break-up had nevertheless been 'a surprise'.
'There (could) be weariness on his part, but it didn’t happen on my part,' she added.
'What he does from the day we separated onwards is his life. I’m not going to get involved and I’m going to respect the woman he chooses, as long as it’s okay with my children.
'As I respect him, I would respect the woman he chooses to have at his side.'
Cervantes and Fernandez share two children together - daughter Olivia and son Benjamin
The influencer has expressed her desire for the relationship between her and Fernandez to stay amicable as they separate
Fernandez has been enjoying a rich vein of form under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca
Fernandez will look to continue his impressive form under Enzo Maresca against Southampton in mid-week Premier League action as the team continue to challenge at the summit of the table.
Level with Arsenal but for alphabetical order, Chelsea sit third in the league standings after an unbeaten November.
The west London side also sit at the very top of the UEFA Conference League rankings thanks to their blemish-free record, securing their last win against arguably their toughest league-phase opposition Heidenheim last week.
Fernandez and Chelsea will be keen to continue their winning run in their penultimate tie against Kazakh side Astana next Thursday.
ChelseaEnzo Fernandez