A legendary ex-Dutch international footballer and former Chelsea manager has told Argentine international Enzo Fernandez that he can expect to be targeted at away grounds this season.
Balon d’Or winner and one-time Chelsea manger Ruud Gullit made those comments, but the question on everyone’s lips is which Premier League ground will Fernandez be calling home this season with Manchester City expected to make an offer to reunite the spiky midfielder with their new manager Enzo Maresca.
An extraordinary transfer deadline
We’re long in the tooth enough to have seen a fair few transfer sagas, but we can’t remember an occasion where a club, in this case Chelsea, has issued a notice on the future of a player. The Blues have set a hard deadline of 5pm BST on Friday (August 14) by which time bids for the Argentina international must have been submitted, otherwise they will not sanction his sale until summer 2027 at the earliest. The asking price is thought to be £120m.
Will Manchester City test Chelsea’s resolve? Their inspirational captain Rodri looks destined to join an Etihad exodus that has seen huge City figures Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva and John Stones all depart this summer. A Rodri shaped hole in the City engine room would open up a slot for Fernandez, and with Barcelona recently submitting a second offer of £51m, the recently minted World Cup winner appears to have one foot out of the door.
Enzo can expect the worst at away grounds whoever he’s playing for
During a recent chat with NY Sports Day, Gullit blasted Enzo Fernandez for his behaviour after Argentina knocked England out of the World Cup.
“He is a fantastic footballer, but what occurred following the international match against England will make playing in English grounds very difficult for him this season. That controversy (Argentina’s victorious players celebrated by unveiling a banner declaring the Falkland Islands Argentine) will linger for a long time. It’s precisely why footballers should avoid political disputes,” Gullit said.
The Dutch icon also outlined that he would like the midfielder to remain in west London, saying:
“He is vital to Chelsea’s setup, and Alonso has made it clear he wants him at the heart of his team. But the key question is whether Enzo can handle the sustained hostility he’ll face away from home all season.
“I would definitely be looking to keep hold of him in London. He’s a fantastic player.”
As the clock ticks on Chelsea’s deadline, we will soon know if Fernandez will be adding Stamford Bridge to the list of Premier League arenas where he can expect a rude welcome.