Enzo Fernandez recently opened up about his January 2023 transfer from Benfica to Chelsea, a move worth £106 million, making it a record-breaking transfer for a British club at the time.
This record, however, was surpassed less than seven months later when Moises Caicedo joined Chelsea for £115 million.
Reflecting on the transfer, Fernandez expressed regret over how he left Benfica and its supporters, although he refrained from going into too much detail about what specifically bothered him.
Speaking during international duty with Argentina, he took the opportunity to acknowledge Benfica fans and the emotional connection he still feels with them.
Fernandez said, “Let me say hello to the Benfica fans, who always send messages and remember me.
Obviously, I didn’t like the way I left the club, but I am very grateful to the club and everyone for all the support they give me.”
His departure from Benfica came after an impressive season where he played 29 matches for the Portuguese side.
His outstanding performance during Argentina’s World Cup victory in 2022 played a significant role in Chelsea’s pursuit of him.
Since his high-profile move to Chelsea, the 23-year-old Argentine international has made 70 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals and providing six assists.
However, despite his consistent presence in the team, there remains some debate among Chelsea supporters about his best position on the pitch.
Last month, Enzo Maresca, a football figure associated with Chelsea, shed light on how he envisions Fernandez’s role within the squad, suggesting that he sees him as a versatile box-to-box midfielder.
He even compared Fernandez’s role to that of Arsenal’s Declan Rice, noting the similarities in how both players operate as both attacking and defensive midfielders depending on their team’s needs.
Maresca elaborated, “I think it’s very difficult in the way we play to find a midfielder that can attack like an attacking midfielder and defend like a holding midfielder.
For instance, Arsenal are using Declan Rice as an attacking midfielder on the ball and as a holding midfielder when defending.
Man City, in the past, have done this with Ilkay Gundogan.”
Maresca also highlighted how Fernandez has been balancing these dual roles, saying that the midfielder is the only player in the current Chelsea squad capable of fulfilling both attacking and defensive duties at such a high level.
He added that in Chelsea’s current setup, Fernandez operates as an attacking midfielder when the team is in possession of the ball but shifts into a more defensive role when they need to maintain balance.
