Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez departed Chelsea on bad terms(Image: Bruno Penas/Quality Sport Images)
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Enzo Fernandez felt that his relationship with his now-former Chelsea teammates was broken as a result of a summer-long transfer saga regarding his future.
The Argentine pushed for a move away from Stamford Bridge both behind the scenes and in public through his agent Javier Pastore. Fernandez eventually got his wish with Chelsea and Manchester City striking a £125million deal on deadline day, but Blues insiders say that came after the midfielder had submitted two written transfer requests.
He had also told them how his relationship with the rest of the dressing room had become fractured. Fernandez was in continuous dialogue with former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca following the Italian's appointment to become Pep Guardiola's successor at the Etihad Stadium.
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Maresca departed Stamford Bridge on New Year's Day after falling out with the Chelsea hierarchy. Fernandez was in regular contact with the former Blues head coach after his dramatic exit at the beginning of the year.
After Fernandez informed Chelsea of his desire to leave before the summer transfer window even opened, the Blues said to the midfielder they would grant his wish as long as their £120m valuation was met.
Chelsea then decided to give City a deadline for said price-tag at 5pm on August 14. Maresca's side did not engage and instead waited until later in the window to make an official move.
With hours remaining of the window, City and Chelsea struck a deal for the increased price of £125m with the former paying the latter a fixed fee with no add-ons.
Fernandez has started life at Man City well, with the 25-year-old central midfielder contributing with an assist for Erling Haaland in his side's 2-0 win away at Porto earlier in the week.