Midfielder Enzo Fernández was suspended for two matches by his club after making public statements expressing his desire to live in Madrid. The club interpreted these remarks as a lack of commitment to their current project, according to an April 3 announcement.
The issue arose when Fernández, during the international break, did not confirm his future with the English team and fueled rumors of a possible transfer to Real Madrid. “Me gustaría vivir en Madrid. Me gusta mucho, es parecida a Buenos Aires,” said Fernández, who joined the “Blues” for 121 million euros at the beginning of 2023.
Team manager Liam Rosenior confirmed the disciplinary action at a press conference. “Es decepcionante que Enzo haya hablado así. No puedo hablar mal de él como persona, pero creo que cruzó una línea en términos de nuestra cultura y de lo que queremos construir,” Rosenior said.
As a result of this suspension, Fernández will miss two key matches: Saturday’s FA Cup quarterfinal against Port Vale and Sunday’s important Premier League match against Manchester City. He will be eligible to return on April 18 for the game against Manchester United. Chelsea is currently sixth in the league with 48 points and is outside European qualification spots following four consecutive defeats and elimination from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain (aggregate score: 8-2).
Rosenior also stated that “la puerta no está cerrada” regarding Fernández’s return but noted that both coaching staff and management agreed on this decision. With challenging fixtures ahead—including Liverpool, Tottenham, and Arsenal—Chelsea faces pressure as they aim to qualify for next season’s Champions League while uncertainty remains over one of their star players.
