Enzo Fernandez‘s recent comments about a possible future in Spain have set off alarm bells at Chelsea, and prompted a sharp rebuke from one of the club’s most respected voices.
A club icon and hugely respected figure at Stamford Bridge, John Obi Mikel publicly criticised the Argentine midfielder’s attitude and made it clear that, in his view, certain public statements do not sit well with the status Fernandez holds within the squad.
“This is Chelsea, not a stepping stone to another team. If your heart is already in Madrid, you shouldn’t wear the blue jersey. At Chelsea, we played for the badge, not for a future transfer,” Mikel said on his podcast.
The remarks did not come out of nowhere. In recent days, rumours of a possible link between Fernandez and Real Madrid have gathered pace, particularly after an interview the Argentine gave to YouTube channel Avirales, in which he spoke with unusual frankness about his preferences outside of England.
While he initially stopped short of naming a specific club, the midfielder made his affinity for the Spanish capital very clear. When asked where he would live if he left London, Fernandez replied without hesitation: “I would like to live in Spain. I really like Madrid; it reminds me of Buenos Aires. A player lives wherever he wants. I can get by with English, but with Spanish I’d be better.”
That comment alone would have been enough to generate headlines. But the real problem at Chelsea goes beyond the content, it is the timing and context that has caused the most discomfort.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
