Enzo Fernandez has refused to be drawn on his future at Chelsea after his agent revealed he is considering leaving Stamford Bridge amid links with Real Madrid.
Fernandez scored the winner in Argentina’s thrilling comeback win over Egypt as the World Cup holders reached the quarter-finals.
The Blues midfielder has been the subject of intense transfer speculation over a move away from Chelsea. Real Madrid had been touted as a possible destination before the club released an astonishing public statement denying they were interested in the player.
Speaking after the 3-2 win over Egypt, Fernandez told DAZN: ‘I’m not thinking about my future now.
‘I’m here living this moment that is incredible for me and after the World Cup, we’ll see.’
Fernandez’s agent, Javier Pastore, yet again spoke up last week about how his client could leave Chelsea while bigging up a move to the Bernabeu.
Enzo Fernandez has refused to be drawn on his Chelsea future after scoring the winner for Argentina against Egypt
Daily Mail Sport reported in recent days how Chelsea had not yet been contacted by Real to open formal talks centred on doing a deal for Fernandez, despite claims to the contrary.
In a statement from Real, who are now managed by Jose Mourinho, they have said: ‘In response to the reports and comments that have appeared in recent days regarding Real Madrid C.F.’s alleged interest in signing Enzo Fernandez, the club wishes to state that it has not undertaken any action whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, aimed at signing the player.
‘Furthermore, it has no intention of pursuing such a transfer.
‘Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost respect for Enzo Fernandez, an outstanding footballer whose career and quality are well known, as well as for Chelsea FC, a club with which it enjoys an excellent institutional relationship.
‘Precisely because of the respect it has for an institution such as Chelsea FC, and in keeping with the principles of institutional loyalty that have always guided Real Madrid’s conduct, the club considers it necessary to categorically deny these unfounded speculations, which bear no relation to reality.
‘Real Madrid regrets that, despite the facts being clear and the club having taken no action whatsoever, reports that do not reflect reality continue to be circulated. These reports serve only to create confusion among supporters and unnecessarily harm the clubs and individuals involved.’
Real have already conducted business with Chelsea in this summer window, signing Marc Cucurella for £51.8m. While away with Spain at the World Cup, Cucurella even publicly urged Fernandez to follow him to the Bernabeu, at the risk of upsetting his former club and fans.
Real have held genuine interest in signing Fernandez, having placed him on their list of midfield candidates, though Chelsea insisted from the beginning that their valuation was £120m. Sources within Stamford Bridge have also said from the get-go that they would be happy to keep their vice-captain if no club offered an acceptable fee.
Fernandez himself has openly admitted he would like to live in Madrid someday. Indeed, an interview in which he declared that landed him in hot water with Chelsea last season as he received a two-game internal ban from the club, who were coached by Liam Rosenior at the time.
As well as Real, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, who are now managed by former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, have been loosely linked with the midfielder.
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