Chelsea owners must listen to Enzo Fernandez and scrap controversial transfer project

Enzo Fernandez shouldn't publicly disrespect Chelsea by flirting with Real Madrid, but he's told the Blues owners exactly what they need to hear

Although Enzo Fernandez should know better than to cast doubt over his future at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea midfielder wouldn't leave the door open to offers ahead of the summer transfer window if he was confident that BlueCo would put their money where their mouth is...

Since Paris Saint-Germain humiliated the Blues in the UEFA Champions League last month, Fernandez has been soft-launching a move to Real Madrid. The Argentina international first refused to guarantee whether he'll still be at the club next season in an interview with ESPN Argentina just minutes after the defeat to Luis Enrique's side in the second leg of the last-16.

Liam Rosenior tried to disarm Fernandez, claiming his words had been misconstrued. Then, shortly after reporting for international duty, the Argentine ripped off the plaster during an appearance on the Avirales YouTube channel, expressing his desire to one day move to the Spanish capital.

Meanwhile, Moises Caicedo committed his future to the club, claiming he wants to become a Chelsea legend, and Marc Cucurella entertained the possibility of a return to Barcelona, where he began his professional career. Eager to make his feelings known, Fernandez later doubled down on Luzu TV, claiming he 'always' tells his wife that he would 'really like' to live in Madrid.

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Fernandez should know better than to invite undue pressure on the club – on and off the pitch – ahead of the run-in, with qualification to the Champions League still up for grabs and the FA Cup on the table. All the midfielder had to do was commit his future to Chelsea for the time being, even if he had plans of moving in the summer, just out of respect.

But he didn't, throwing Rosenior under the bus. The Blues boss, who's already under immense pressure to improve results, will be expected to comment on Fernandez and the direction of the club, again, when it should be those in the boardroom that face the music.

Although the Argentine should not disrespect Chelsea and its fans by flirting with another club, it's about time that a senior player challenged the higher-ups. Fernandez was the first statement signing by the Blues, joining from Benfica for a then-British record fee of £107m.

The midfielder arrived as a World Cup winner, who had just won the best young player of the tournament award, and yet he invested in the project of a sleeping giant that languished in the middle of the Premier League table. Fernandez pushed to join Chelsea because he believed in the project.

Rather than jumping ship like many others, he led the west Londoners through thick and thin. Fernandez was finally repaid for his faith when Enzo Maresca guided Chelsea back to winning ways, becoming the first – and only – world champion for club and country.

The Blues had struck gold. Not only had Chelsea won a couple of trophies, they had also qualified for the UEFA Champions League. For the first time since the American consortium took the reins in May 2022, progress had finally been made.

There was light at the end of the tunnel. Maresca had build a squad that was only one or two, maybe more like three after Levi Colwill suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, world-class additions away from challenging for the Premier League title.

But the Italian wasn't backed in the summer transfer window. Although Chelsea couldn't quite keep up with Arsenal and Manchester City, Maresca proved he was capable of locking horns with the best tacticians around, winning marquee fixtures agianst marquee opposition.

There was still a glimmer of hope. But, as soon as higher-ups at Stamford Bridge fell out with Maresca and he walked away, the west Londoners went back to square one.

Fernandez, as well as every other player in the Chelsea squad, must take some responsibility, of course. Performance levels dropped. But, equally, he and his teammates just want the best for the club. They've ran out of patience.

They wouldn't have signed such lengthy contracts if they didn't want a future at the club. But they're ambitious. They want to compete for the most prestigous trophies. So why accept anything less than the best?

Would you rather a player that accepts medicority or demands the best from thier peers? Of course, Fernandez shouldn't cast doubt over his future. But he's been at Chelsea for three years and just as the club looks set make progress, everything comes crashing down.

Ultimately, the Argentine has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world, so it will come as no surprise when the likes of Real Madrid inevitably come knocking in the summer.

If Fernandez were to accept such an offer, could you blame him? No. Have the Chelsea owners done enough to keep a player of his calibre at Stamford Bridge? No.

At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words and the higher-ups at Stamford Bridge are in a race against time to keep their best players at the club. Unless they scrap their project and launch a win-now mantra in the summer, the Blues may struggle to sign a world-class player ever again.

Chelsea will simply become a stepping stone...