08 February 2024 , 13:44
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Uriel Perez, the agent of Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, has shot down suggestions the World Cup winner is looking to leave Stamford Bridge.
Fernandez, 23, joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 in a deal worth up to £105m. The fee was a Premier League record at the time, but has since been eclipsed by Moises Caicedo's move to Chelsea from Brighton. The Argentina international was unable to lead Chelsea to European qualification last season, with the Blues sacking manager Graham Potter en route to a bottom-half finish. Things haven't improved under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, with the London club languishing in 11th.
A number of players have been linked with summer exits if Chelsea miss out on Champions League football again, with Fernandez among them. However, Perez claims his client is committed to his current employers.
"This [the rumours] came out of the London press, I don't understand why," Perez told ESPN. "Both Enzo and I are very clear on what this project is, which was transmitted to me on the day of the World Cup final.
"They [Chelsea executives] were very clear that it was a project that was going to take time, especially from a sporting standpoint because they were going to change the squad, They were going to try to bring the best youth players and one of them was Enzo.
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"They were aware that it was going to take one, two or even three seasons for the team to start fighting for important things. But they said that once the team was assembled, it would start to compete for titles. I think the team has a lot of quality, very good players, and the only thing missing is that it fits together."
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Enzo Fernandez celebrating his goal for Chelsea against Aston Villa (PA)Former River Plate star Fernandez joined Chelsea after impressing in Argentina's run to World Cup success in 2022. He didn't miss a game in his first half-season in West London, and has only sat out three this season under compatriot Pochettino.
All six of his goals for the club have come this season, with two in the league and four in cup competitions. He scored in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough, septting up a Wembley meeting with Liverpool which could deliver Fernandez his first trophy in English football, and also netted against Aston Villa in Wednesday's FA Cup fourth round replay win at Aston Villa.
"I think after our last couple of performances everyone was determined to have a good one tonight and it was, and most importantly, it was a win as well," fellow goalscorer Conor Gallagher told club media after the victory. "There was a lot of hunger and that’s what we need every game.
"I think before the game you could sense that because the last two games have not been good enough by our standards. Everyone was really up for it and raring to give our fans a good performance and we did."