Real Madrid has stated it has no intention of signing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez this summer. The Spanish club issued a statement denying recent reports linking them with the Argentina international, asserting that these claims do not align with reality.
Despite reports suggesting Fernandez is keen to leave Chelsea following their failure to secure European qualification last season, Real Madrid has clarified that they have not made any direct or indirect efforts to sign the player. They also confirmed they have no plans to pursue such an operation.
Chelsea, for their part, has confirmed that no club-to-club approach has been received from Real Madrid regarding Fernandez. The Blues value the 25-year-old at £120m if serious interest were to materialise, but they are not actively looking to sell and would prefer to keep him as a key player under new coach Xabi Alonso.
Fernandez, who joined Chelsea in February 2023 for a then-British record fee of £107m, has been an important player for the club. He helped Argentina win the World Cup at the end of 2022 and has since won the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup with Chelsea. Last season, he scored 15 goals in all competitions.
His agent, Javier Pastore, has publicly discussed Fernandez’s future, suggesting the player is underpaid at Chelsea and that the lack of Champions League qualification could be an issue. Fernandez himself received a two-game suspension in April from former coach Liam Rosenior after expressing uncertainty about his future at Chelsea and stating his desire to live in Madrid.
Real Madrid’s Stance and Other Clubs’ Interest
Real Madrid’s statement emphasised their respect for Enzo Fernandez as a footballer and for Chelsea FC, highlighting an excellent institutional relationship between the clubs. They expressed regret that unfounded speculations continue to circulate, causing confusion among fans and potentially harming the involved parties.
This public distancing from Real Madrid comes after similar private signals from sources at Paris St-Germain and Manchester City, both of whom had previously been linked with the midfielder. According to football journalist Fabrizio Romano, there have been “zero contacts” between Chelsea and Real Madrid regarding Fernandez.
Romano also indicated that Real Madrid views Fernandez as one of five midfield options and that any potential signing would depend on player departures from their current squad. Dani Ceballos and Nico Paz have already left, but key decisions regarding first-team rotation players would need to be made before pursuing a new midfielder.
Meanwhile, Arsenal and Manchester City have reportedly entered the race to sign Fernandez. Sportitalia journalist Gianluigi Longari stated that Real Madrid would need to make a “sacrifice” to present an offer to Chelsea, while Arsenal and Manchester City are gathering information on the Argentine international.
Chelsea’s Perspective and Future Plans
The situation has been described as challenging for Chelsea, given Fernandez’s importance to the team. Last season, he contributed 15 goals and seven assists in all competitions and served as vice-captain. However, Chelsea maintains that the situation is not irreparable.
The club has consistently stated their willingness to listen to offers if their £120m valuation is met, but they are not actively seeking to sell him. There is a belief at Stamford Bridge that new coach Xabi Alonso can successfully reintegrate Fernandez into the squad and help mend his relationship with supporters through strong performances on the pitch.
Real Madrid has already signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea this summer in a deal worth up to £51.8m. The Spanish giants issued a similar statement last month to deny reports linking them with Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Dominic Hayes is the Sports News Writer at NewsGB, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with five years of reporting experience. He started on a north-east sports desk. He holds a degree in Journalism from Teesside University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Middlesbrough, he follows pro golf and amateur boxing. “Fast and accurate is the only standard worth keeping.”
