Banned: Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea Football Newsletter
Enzo Fernandez has been dropped by Chelsea for the upcoming FA Cup clash tie Port Vale and Premier League clash with Manchester City following recent comments regarding his future.
The Argentine has not shied away from speculation over his future, having earlier this month cast doubt over staying at Chelsea following the club's exit from the Champions League.
Asked by ESPN Argentina whether he would be a Blues player next season, Fernandez said: “I don't know. Right now I'm focused on here, then there's the World Cup, and we'll see.”
A few days later, Fernandez reiterated that stance to the same publication when confirming there had been "no talks" with Real Madrid over a summer move, adding: "Right now I'm focused on Chelsea, we'll see after the World Cup.”
He then, with an interview on Twitch, confirmed that Madrid would be his ideal place to live if he were to leave London.
Blues manager Liam Rosenior has confirmed: “I spoke to Enzo an hour ago. As a football club we've made a decision. He won't be available for tomorrow's game and he won't be available for Manchester City.
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“We think a line was crossed. It's not ideal. A lot of it stemmed from a really difficult ten days, probably the most difficult ten days of my career.”
He added: “As a person and player, I have the utmost respect for Enzo Fernandez.
“It was a joint decision. And saying that, the door is not closed on Enzo. You have to protect that culture. And in terms of that, a line was crossed in the international break.”
Marc Cucurella is another to have caused controversy during the international break, hitting out at the club over the sacking of Enzo Maresca and suggesting that the club’s youth-centric transfer policy is negatively affecting their trophy chances.
Rosenior continued: “I had a productive conversation with Marc yesterday, 30 minutes in my office. My disappointment in Marc's interview is where it went to. I think he should have come and spoken to us first.
“Why I was in a meeting with him for half an hour was to remind him, 'You can come to me, you can speak to me'.
“That's a separate case and Marc is available and will be involved tomorrow.”
More follows.