Manchester City are said to be amused by the noises coming from west London regarding the circumstances of Enzo Fernandez's deadline day move to the Etihad Stadium, as per a new report.
Chelsea have spun a narrative around the circumstances that led to Enzo Fernandez's exit from Chelsea.
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The 25-year-old completed his £125 million move from Stamford Bridge on deadline day in a deal that made him Manchester City's most expensive signing in the club's history, eclipsing the £116 million paid to Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson in July.
Fernandez has since made an immediate impression in east Manchester, starring in Porto in the UEFA Champions League last week and making a strong impression in the derby victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
In the weeks since the window closed, Chelsea are understood to have briefed that Fernandez submitted two written transfer requests to force the move through, and that the Argentina international had told the club hierarchy that his relationships with teammates had deteriorated, seemingly beyond repair.
Maresca was known to have been desperate to reunite with Fernandez, having worked with him at Chelsea before his own move to the Etihad Stadium.
Man City Insiders Puzzled With Chelsea Framing of Fernandez Exit
According to Jack Gaughan of Mail Sport, City's response to the ongoing noise from Chelsea about Enzo Fernandez has been quiet amusement.
Enzo Fernandez has spoken publicly for the first time as a Manchester City player, opening up on the emotion of joining the club, his reunion with manager Enzo Maresca and the meaning behind his choice of shirt number.cityxtra.co.uk"I Didn't Hesitate for a Second" - Enzo Fernandez Opens Up on Manchester City Move and Enzo Maresca Reunion
Enzo Fernandez has spoken publicly for the first time as a Manchester City player, opening up on the emotion of joining the club, his reunion with manager Enzo Maresca and the meaning behind his choice of shirt number.
The suggestion that the Argentina international submitted two written transfer requests to force his move and that his relationships with teammates had broken down beyond repair has been met internally at City with a degree of indifference: a quiet puzzlement as to why, weeks after the window closed, Chelsea remain so focused on litigating a deal that is already done.
The curiosity is sharpened by the fact that Alonso himself praised Fernandez's attitude and application after the mid-August deadline, by which point a £120 million agreement had not been reached, passed without incident at Stamford Bridge.
Inside Fernandez's Time at Chelsea
In his first interview upon joining forces with Maresca at the Etihad Stadium, Fernandez said he "didn't hesitate for a second" once City's interest became concrete.
That context - and the fact that the transfer is now two weeks in the past, with Fernandez settled and performing - explains the tone from City's end. From their perspective, the deal is done, Fernandez has made an excellent start, and the continuing discussion from Chelsea's side is a subject of quiet bewilderment rather than any real concern.
It is also worth noting that Fernandez spent three-and-a-half years at Chelsea after arriving from Benfica in January 2023, captaining the club to the 2025 UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup before a relationship with sections of the Chelsea support that had grown increasingly difficult in the final months.
His omission from Alonso's squad during the mid-August deadline period was itself a signal that the chapter was drawing to a close.
The midfielder starred for City in Sunday's 1-0 Manchester derby win at Old Trafford and could be rested for Thursday's Carabao Cup third round tie with Norwich City - ahead of the weekend's Premier League meeting with Sunderland.