Our Chelsea panel discuss and debate the future of Enzo Fernandez after Real Madrid released a statement on Friday morning stating they will not be signing the midfielder
07:00, 04 Jul 2026
Enzo Fernandez
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Enzo Fernandez wants to depart Chelsea this summer(Image: Harvey Murphy/News Images/NurPhoto)
In a week that started with Chelsea, Manchester City and Enzo Maresca trading blows by releasing official statements, it was fitting it ended in a similar way.
On Friday morning, remarkably, Real Madrid released a 'Comunicado Oficial' - something that has become infamous on football social media - where the Spanish club categorically denied any negotiations with Chelsea or Enzo Fernandez over a move for the midfielder. Fernandez's desire to move to the Santiago Bernabeu has been football's worst-kept secret over the last few months.
football.london reported towards the end of May that the 25-year-old informed Chelsea of his desire to depart Stamford Bridge this summer. Chelsea, in turn, placed a £120million price tag on his head - a fee that saw many eyebrows raised but one that looks more and more fair with every deal that is completed in this lucrative summer transfer window.
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However, if you are to believe the statement released from Madrid, Fernandez might be denied his dream move this summer. Will anyone else come in and pay £120m for the Chelsea midfielder? At this moment in time, it seems highly unlikely.
So, with that being said, Bobby Vincent and Jake Stokes, our Chelsea writers, disagree on what they want to happen next re Fernandez:
Bobby Vincent
It's a really tricky situation for Xabi Alonso. Personally, I don't think reintegrating someone, no matter how good of a player they are, who does not want to be at the club will be good for squad morale. In such a critical season for BlueCo's tenure and Chelsea's future, too.
Fernandez has been flirting with a move to Madrid for too long now and it's beyond disrespectful to Chelsea. Equally, though, I completely understand the Blues holding out for big money - especially due to some of the extortionate moves we have seen already this summer - for a fantastic footballer.
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I'm unsure what the solution is but unless Fernandez shows a willingness to return and succeed at Stamford Bridge, I don't think including him in the squad is the right thing to do. However, he is still contracted at the club until 2032. Chelsea need to find a way to sell - as good as Fernandez is.
Jake Stokes
Unless Fernandez sacks his agent, publicly apologises for his actions, and proves his loyalty by signing a new contract, Chelsea should be prepared to accept a little less than £120m for his signature and get him off the books. Of course, the Blues would be a much better outfit with the 25-year-old midfielder in the starting line-up, but he's burned his bridges in west London.Although Fernandez cast doubt over his future in March, he hasn't explicitly demanded to leave the Blues in the public domain; his agent has, however, fanned the flames, and there's no smoke without fire. So, unfortunately, Chelsea should cash in before they lose any more ground in negotiations with potential suitors.If Real Madrid aren't prepared to table a nine-figure fee for the Argentina international, the Blues should propose a player(s)-plus-cash swap deal. Either of Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, or Alavaro Carreras would be great additions to Alonso's side.At the end of the day, the new Chelsea boss just needs a strong squad of reliable players who are focused on winning silverware. Whether it's BlueCo's fault or not, Fernandez has taken his eye off the ball, and it shouldn't be the former Liverpool midfielder's job to fix the problem when Fernandez returns from the World Cup.