In November, Enzo Maresca justified his decision to overlook his £107million namesake by claiming his prefers the physicality of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
At that stage of the season the Blues were dreaming of an unlikely title challenge after bouncing back from a defeat at Anfield to beat Newcastle 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Even at that point, the 2024-25 season could have been charactised as ‘eventful’ for Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine’s campaign began with apologies to his Chelsea team-mates after he recorded himself and several international colleagues singing a controversial song about France’s black players in the aftermath of the Copa America triumph.
After proving his contrition, the former Benfica star was re-integrated into the side and even began the term in the starting XI alongside Caicedo. However, following the long-awaited return of Romeo Lavia, Fernandez was shunted to the bench and did not start a four-game spell that included clashes against Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal.
The Blues came away from the run with a respectable five points but following Fernandez’s return to the starting XI, opponents notwithstanding, Chelsea’s form became certifiably red-hot.
It’s a run in the team that coincided with the talented but injury-riddled Lavia picking up another issue which sidelined him for the best part of five months. And will almost certainly see the 24-year-old start Chelsea’s Conference League final against Real Betis.
Enzo Fernandez has produced his finest campaign for the Blues since his huge £107m transfer
The 24-year-old won over his manager in the middle of the campaign amid injuries in the Blues’ midfield
The Argentine has enjoyed his most productive season , with seven goals and 13 assists in all competitions
The midfielder’s late-season form has even caught the eye of Spanish giants Real Madrid and prompted Maresca to insist his roaming playmaker is going nowhere this summer.
‘He’s a main player for us,’ said Maresca this week. ‘He’s one of the captains, the leaders and he’s been very good. He can be even better next season, starting from the first day.’
Though Maresca has always been publicly supportive of the midfielder, he’s never gushed over his star man quite like this. As Cole Palmer struggled and Nicolas Jackson missed an eternity through injury, Fernandes was quietly going about his business.
‘Nothing to say about speculation. He’s focused on us and this is the most important thing,’ the Italian added.
Fernandez should certainly be commended for winning over his manager in a season that has seen him net seven goals and provide 13 assists. His feat is all the most impressive when cast in the light of his off-field struggles.
At the end of October the midfielder split his childhood sweetheart and influencer wife, Valentina Cervantes, to live on his own – despite them having a daughter and son together.
Cervantes followed Fernandez to Benfica when he joined the Portuguese club in 2022, and then moved to London to join her partner when he signed for Chelsea in a deal worth £107m last January. But after a little more than 18 months, the couple decided to go their separate ways.
Announcing the end of their relationship, Cervantes wrote on Instagram: ‘With Enzo today we say distance from each other. But we will always be family and support each other through everything. Because there are two kids in the middle that need a lot of our love for them.
Enzo Fernandez split from his childhood sweetheart and mother of his children Valentina Cervantes in November
‘I know the person and excellent father Enzo is, and the heart he has. And that’s enough for me. They don’t want to create wars where there aren’t any.’
Argentine journalist Julieta Argenta shed further light on the situation, writing: ”He told her he wants to live life on his own. They’re still family, but he feels the need to experience the stage he skipped by choosing family early on.’
The off-field drama continued into the new year after Cervantes revealed that she is ‘still in love’ with the star footballer.
Cervantes, who moved back to her native Olivia after the split, spoke amid rumours that Fernandez had rather quickly moved on with Argentine rapper-singer Nicki Nicole.
In an interview with La Nacion, Cervantes said: ‘I think the love is still there because it is difficult for it to go away so quickly’.
She also opened up on how she’s coped with the surprise split as she admitted: ‘I took five minutes, literally. Today I don’t cry anymore.’
Cervantes, however, suggested that her and Fernandez are now ‘on different paths’ and opened up the possibility of starting a new family.
She said: ‘I bet on falling in love again and forming another family. I am young and I would have a million children’.
Cervantes (left) followed Fernandez (right) to London when he joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023
The couple were together a number of years after meeting in their homeland of Argentina
Back in December, the former law student also used an interview to reveal she had asked the footballer about rumours he was dating Nicole and had been assured the reports were untrue.
By this point in the footballing calendar Fernandez had firmly established himself in the starting XI and was wearing the captain’s armband with some regularity as club skipper Reece James battled back from injury.
In truth, injuries have played a big part in Fernandez’s success this season.
If not for the hamstring issue that stopped Lavia in his tracks, the Argentine might not have had a route back into the team.
And if not for the long-term problems to James, Fernandez would not have been leading the side out every week.
Credit must got to the former Benfica star for stepping up when his opportunity arrived. After all, it’s now put him in position to make a difference for Chelsea in Poland this week.
With Lavia again unavailable, Fernandez will partner the ever-present Caicedo as the Blues look to claim the first piece of silverware of the BlueCo era.
‘At the beginning, he was playing in one way all his life, previously with Benfica and Argentina, but for us, it’s more about understanding where he has to stay, but also arrive when we are attacking,’ Maresca said of his midfielder earlier this month.
Fernandez capitalised on the absence of Romeo Lavia and ensured he would stay in the team after the Belgian returned
The former Benfica man has the chance to fire Chelsea to their first trophy of the BlueCo era
‘I think he scores goals, but he also, in terms of assists, has important numbers.
‘I don’t have any doubts that starting next season from the first game, he can improve his numbers even more.’
If Fernandez is able to improve again next season the £107m fee the Blues hastily paid to sign him will finally cease to look like a transfer blunder.
