Enzo Fernandez sets sights on Real Madrid as Chelsea future questioned
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has reportedly decided he will only leave Stamford Bridge for a move to Real Madrid this summer, according to Spanish outlet El Nacional. The 25-year-old Argentina international is said to have ruled out a potential transfer to other clubs, including Manchester City, and is prepared to wait for an approach from the Spanish champions. Chelsea, however, are understood to have no intention of selling the World Cup winner during the upcoming transfer window.
The report claims Fernandez has made a "firm" decision to target a move to the Bernabeu, where he would join stars like Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. This development comes amid a turbulent period at Chelsea following the sacking of manager Liam Rosenior. The midfielder, alongside defender Marc Cucurella, has been accused by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville of "stitching up" the departed manager. Neville suggested, according to the Evening Standard, that the experienced pair undermined Rosenior by publicly expressing admiration for former coach Enzo Maresca while performances under Rosenior were poor.
Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for a British record fee reported to be around £106.8 million. His time in West London has been mixed, with flashes of his undoubted technical quality often interspersed with inconsistent team performances. The reported desire for a move to Madrid adds another layer of uncertainty to a Chelsea squad already in flux. The club's policy of offering extremely long-term contracts, criticized by Neville, means Fernandez is tied to Chelsea until 2031, giving the club significant control over any potential departure.
Meanwhile, Chelsea's recruitment team appears to remain active elsewhere. The club is reportedly one of several Premier League sides tracking Genk's 18-year-old Greek winger Konstantinos Karetsas, according to TeamTalk. The teenager has registered 11 assists this season, attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Liverpool, among others. Chelsea have a historical link with Genk, having previously signed Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois from the Belgian club.
In other news, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers is open to a move abroad, with Paris Saint-Germain joining Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United as interested parties, according to TalkSport. Chelsea may hold an advantage in any pursuit due to Rogers' friendship with Blues star Cole Palmer, though Villa are likely to demand a fee in the region of £80 million for the midfielder. Separately, Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is training alone away from the squad awaiting an update after testing positive for a banned substance, as confirmed by his former club Shakhtar Donetsk's sporting director Darijo Srna in an interview with Flashscore.
