One of the most decorated players to take to the field has blasted Enzo Fernandez for flirting with Real Madrid during a season to forget for Chelsea.
Former Chelsea and France captain Marcel Desailly has fired shots at the conduct of Argentina international midfielder Enzo Fernandez, blasting the player for what he deems to be unprofessional behaviour.
Speaking exclusively to MrRaffle.com, Desailly explained that Fernandez should have let his entourage do the talking with Real Madrid rather than an issues a come and get me plea himself.
“It’s not right, especially if it’s coming straight from the mouth of the player. I mean, you need to have that respect and allow the people around you—your representatives—to work like a submarine to negotiate and deal with it. You cannot show your bitterness publicly,” Desailly said.
What did Enzo Fernandez say?
After Chelsea were dumped out of the Champions League to PSG this season, losing 8-2 on aggregate, Fernandez gave an interview where he was quoted as saying: I don’t know, there are eight games left and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup and then we’ll see.”
He doubled down on these comments a few weeks later while on international duty with Argentina, saying: “I’d like to live in Spain, I really like Madrid.” Those comments resulted in the Chelsea vice captain being dropped for two games in what then Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior described as a “lack of respect for the club”. Rosenior didn’t last much longer as Chelsea players downed tools, seeing the club finish the season in a pitiful tenth.
Palmer handled speculation on future properly
Marcel Desailly continued to be critical of Fernandez and compared his situation to that of Chelsea’s star player Cole Palmer. Palmer, who has been continuously linked with a blockbuster transfer to Manchester United, didn’t fuel any speculation and behaved properly.
“Palmer was also in a similar situation with Manchester United links, but he has been quiet. He has been very quiet. So it is something that you have to learn. You know, some of the South American guys, they come to Europe and they don’t really care. Today they are here, tomorrow they can go anywhere.
“Fair enough, nobody is complaining, but it is what it is. Sometimes you have to respect the club. You’ve been able to raise your name through your performances, yes, but the club also gave you the tools to be able to rise to that level in the first place,” Desailly said.
Rumours of an impending transfer to Real Madrid have gone into overdrive over the last few days, with Spanish publication Marca reporting he has agreed terms with the La Liga giants.
One thing is certain, with a World Cup just over a week away and numerous opportunities for Fernandez to speak to his native media, this is one transfer story that will run and run.