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.

Source: bbc.co.uk

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England will assess the fitness of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Chelsea defender Reece James before their final World Cup group stage match against Panama. The assessments will take place prior to Saturday’s fixture in New Jersey.

Rice was seen limping after England’s goalless draw against Ghana on Tuesday, with heavy strapping on his left calf. Despite this, sources suggest there is no significant concern that the issue will impact his long-term involvement in the United States. However, the injury requires assessment and rest before a decision can be made regarding the 27-year-old’s availability for the upcoming match. England’s manager and staff will need to consider the risks of playing him.

This is not the first time Rice has experienced discomfort, as he was also substituted in the game against Croatia due to nerve pain in a sore hamstring he has been managing. He has reportedly been playing through “neural pain” in his hamstring since Christmas. Rice has played a total of 63 matches across the 2025/26 season, which is the most of any player in the England squad.

Jamie Carragher, a pundit, believes that Rice’s importance to the team means he cannot be rested. He noted that Rice’s substitution against Croatia was likely a precaution for discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring, an issue he has been carrying for much of the season without it significantly affecting his performance for Arsenal.

James will also undergo assessment as England prepares for Saturday’s game. The 26-year-old completed the entire match against Ghana but will be checked by medical staff in the coming hours. The Chelsea captain has a history of injuries, and his workload will be closely monitored.

Squad Fitness Concerns

Beyond Rice and James, other players have also faced fitness challenges. Bukayo Saka, Rice’s Arsenal teammate, entered the tournament with an Achilles problem. He was confined to the bench against Croatia and Ghana, though he did come on in both matches.

Carragher suggested that Saka’s situation might be more serious than Rice’s, given that he did not start the first game and missed a significant amount of football last season. He advised against risking Saka, to avoid losing him for the tournament. However, Carragher also acknowledged that the longer Saka remains on the bench, the more difficult it could be for him to displace Noni Madueke, who started on the right-hand side in the opener.

Another area of discussion has been the central defence. John Stones partnered Ezri Konsa against Croatia, despite Stones having played fewer than 440 Premier League minutes last season, while Marc Guehi was on the bench. Stones appeared to be off the pace, particularly for Croatia’s opening goal.

Carragher expressed surprise that Guehi did not start and suggested that Guehi would be his first choice in the back four. He also voiced concerns about Stones’ match fitness, given his limited playing time over the past few years. Despite this, Carragher would give Stones another opportunity to play, hoping he can regain full match fitness by the knockout stages.

Group Stage Progress

England currently leads their group with four points after two matches. Ghana also has four points. Croatia, after overcoming Panama 1-0 on Tuesday, has three points. Panama remains on zero points, having lost both of their games 1-0.

After the goalless draw with Ghana, the England manager stated that the team does not need a wake-up call, assuring that everyone is alert and fully committed. He dismissed any notion of overconfidence, suggesting that if anything, there might have been moments of over-cautiousness. The manager emphasised the importance of not letting the highs get too high or the lows get too low, describing the draw as a difficult match rather than a low point. England will aim to win their final group match against Panama on Saturday.

Source: bbc.co.uk

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