Enzo Fernandez appeared to hit out at the Chelsea board over their decision to sack Enzo Maresca in another telling interview.
Former boss Maresca left Stamford Bridge on New Year's Day after a breakdown in relations at the club, having guided the Blues to Club World Cup and Conference League glory.
Enzo Fernandez enjoyed 16 months under Maresca's leadership between June 2024 and January of this year
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Enzo Fernandez enjoyed 16 months under Maresca's leadership between June 2024 and January of this yearCredit: Getty
Swings and roundabouts
At the time of the Italian's departure, Chelsea had won just once in seven Premier League games, and the BlueCo ownership chose Liam Rosenior as his replacement to turn things around.
However, after an impressive start which saw him win seven of his nine games, Rosenior has experienced a downturn in form recently.
Things hit a new low on Tuesday, as the Blues crashed out of the Champions League with an 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.
A 3-0 loss at Stamford Bridge confirmed the embarrassing result, and midfielder Fernandez added to the bad feeling after the match.
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'Hurt us a lot'
In a post-match interview with Mexican broadcaster TUDN which only emerged on Friday, Fernandez was asked about Chelsea's decision to approve Maresca’s departure earlier this season.
Appearing to criticise the turn of events, he replied: “I don’t understand it either [the decision].
“Sometimes there are things that we as players don’t understand, how and in what way they try to manage things.
“Obviously, it was a departure that hurt us a lot because we had an identity. He gave us an order, even though, as is the way of football, sometimes it’s good and bad.
"But he always had a very clear identity when it came to training and playing, and obviously his departure hurt us a lot, especially in the middle of the season, it cuts everything short."
And these weren't Fernandez's only explosive comments in the aftermath of Chelsea's Champions League exit.
In a separate interview with ESPN Argentina, the 25-year-old appeared to cast doubt over his future at Stamford Bridge.
When quizzed on where he would be playing next season, Fernandez replied: "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 bombshell response seemed to take head coach Rosenior by surprise on the night, but at a press conference on Friday, he insisted the midfielder is happy at the club.
The Blues boss said: "I have a very, very good relationship with the players because we speak all the time.
"Not just about football, or the situation with their contracts, but about their life, with their kids, how their kids are, how school is.
Enzo Fernandez against Paris Saint-Germain
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All does not seem well with Fernandez at ChelseaCredit: Getty
Liam Rosenior post-Paris Saint-Germain
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The midfielder's recent comments suggest he is not enjoying life under Liam RoseniorCredit: Getty
"I have a very, very close relationship with Enzo and with the other players. In terms of contracts and where they want to be, there's not one player at this club since I've been here that has said that he doesn't want to be here in the summer.
"In fact, the conversations are more about how we improve, what we can do as a group to improve, what we need to do to win in this moment. And that's where we are at the moment."
Where could Fernandez go?
Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023for in a staggering£106.8million fee - a then-British transfer record.
Therefore, should the World Cup winner decide to cut ties at the end of the season, the Blues are likely to demand a similarly huge fee to what they forked out to sign him.
This limits Fernandez's options somewhat, with very few clubs across the globe able to foot such a huge bill.
But talkSPORT's Ben Jacobs has claimed European giants Real Madrid could make the Argentina star another marquee signing.
Real Madrid players Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde
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Could Fernandez join Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde in Real Madrid's star-studded midfield?Credit: AFP
“Enzo Fernandez is open to leaving Chelsea," Jacobs said on talkSPORT's Sports Bar on Tuesday.
"It's as simple as that. But are Chelsea open to selling Enzo Fernandez? Not at the moment, but there's a long way to go until the summer.
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“The challenge is regardless of what Enzo Fernandez may or may not want, Chelsea are not going to sell Enzo Fernandez, speaking to sources, for a book loss, which means there's only a handful of clubs in the world that could afford Enzo Fernandez.
“Some are in Saudi, he doesn't want to go there. Some say PSG, I'm told that's wide of the mark. Real Madrid is the other club."