Chelsea sources insist Enzo Fernandez is going nowhere, even if Real Madrid escalate their interest in the 24-year-old Argentinian this summer.
Real are in the market for a midfielder and have tracked Fernandez, a hybrid between defensive and attacking, ever since he was originally with River Plate.
He ended up going from there to Benfica to Chelsea for £106.8million after winning the World Cup in 2022, and Stamford Bridge insiders have no intention of breaking up his burgeoning £220m midfield partnership with Moises Caicedo, another star considered untouchable this summer.
Fernandez came in for criticism last year when he was accused of singing a racist song after Argentina’s Copa America triumph.
Enzo Fernandez is considerable untouchable by Chelsea after this season
Chelsea see him as a valuable starter who gives his all in games
Real Madrid are interested in Fernandez but Chelsea insist he is going nowhere
Chelsea chose to forgive and forget that controversy and now see him as a valuable starter who gives his all in games.
Indeed, you may notice a particular theme when scanning down the top 10 distances covered by Chelsea players in Premier League matches this season:
11.8km – Enzo Fernandez vs Fulham, December 26
11.8km – Enzo Fernandez vs Brentford, December 15
11.6km – Enzo Fernandez vs Ipswich, December 30
11.6km – Enzo Fernandez vs Manchester City, January 25
11.5km – Enzo Fernandez vs Leicester, November 23
11.5km – Enzo Fernandez vs Everton, April 26
11.5km – Enzo Fernandez vs Manchester City, August 18
11.5km – Marc Cucurella vs Wolves, January 20
11.4km – Enzo Fernandez vs Leicester, March 9
11.4km – Enzo Fernandez vs Aston Villa, February 22
We could continue going down the list, but you would only see Fernandez’s name again, and again, and again, as his central role for Chelsea sees him go from box to box.
After setting up Nicolas Jackson’s strike against Everton on Saturday, Fernandez has also now provided more assists this season than each of Martin Odegaard, Dominik Szoboszlai, Matheus Cunha, Luis Diaz, Leandro Trossard, Bruno Guimaraes, Jeremy Doku, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden.
Manager Enzo Maresca has spent much of this season privately pushing Fernandez to break into the opposition’s box during attacks. Maresca’s system and selection in their 1-0 victory at the weekend certainly helped him into advanced positions, as Caicedo’s inverting from right back into midfield next to Romeo Lavia gave Fernandez licence to go further forward.
The same setup could be deployed for the visit of Liverpool this Sunday, though it will not be possible in their Conference League semi-final first leg with Djurgarden as Lavia has not been included in the squad registered with UEFA for load management reasons.
Chelsea make sure to train on ‘s****y’ pitch in Stockholm
It can be revealed that several Djurgarden players have been suffering with flu this week in the build-up to what the Swedish side are describing as the biggest match in their history. However, it is their own artificial pitch which has been leaving them feeling much more sick collectively.
Their own striker August Priske has described their 3G turf as ’s****y’, for example. Others have suggested the ball seems to have a mind of its own at the 3Arena, which is a multi-purpose stadium with Harry Styles and Elton John among those who have played there previously. Djurgarden also share the stadium with fellow Stockholm side Hammarby.
Djurgarden’s own players have described the surface at the 3Arena as ‘s****y’
Chelsea will train on the artificial pitch in advance of their Conference League semi-final
Rarely have Chelsea taken up the option of training abroad before their Conference League matches this season – they have tended to train at Cobham and then fly – but they made sure to do so this time as they arranged a 7.15pm Wednesday session on the 3Arena pitch.
Confidential will be in attendance at that, as well as Enzo Maresca’s press conference at 6.30pm.
No Twickenham talks between Chelsea and RFU
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney created headlines this week when he essentially suggested rugby would be thrilled to lend Twickenham to Chelsea, should they need a temporary home while rebuilding or renovating Stamford Bridge.
Sweeney did mention Richmond Council might have an issue with it, mind, and so we got in contact with the local authority to ask their stance on it all.
The answer we received was there is zilch up for consideration at this time.
Richmond Council told Confidential: ‘There are no proposals before the council regarding the use of Twickenham Stadium by Chelsea FC, and we understand from the RFU that no discussions are taking place on this matter.
‘We value our relationship with the Rugby Football Union and welcome the constructive engagement about the stadium’s operations.
‘Any significant change in use would need to be subject to formal planning processes, with full consideration of local impacts and the views of our residents.’
The Chelsea goalkeeper who IS impressing this season… and set for a new deal
Teddy Sharman-Lowe saved a penalty at the weekend as Doncaster secured automatic promotion to League One
The 22-year-old is set to earn a new deal before heading out on loan again next season
While the debate surrounding Chelsea’s goalkeepers will not disappear any time soon, they have a 22-year-old Englishman who has enjoyed a stellar 2024-25 season on loan elsewhere.
That is Teddy Sharman-Lowe, who crucially saved a penalty at the weekend as Doncaster secured automatic promotion to League One.
Confidential can reveal enquiries are already coming in from all across the EFL as to his availability for next campaign, including from the Championship.
The England Under 21 international signed a one-year contract with Chelsea last summer with the option of an additional year.
The Blues are expected to negotiate a brand new deal for Sharman-Lowe before sending him away to gain further experience on loan for the 2025-26 season.
Tosin not up for swapsies, even if‘old’ by Chelsea standards
Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo is an avid collector of football cards.
The story goes that during the Covid lockdown of 2020, he decided to kill time by going through his memorabilia when he found a 2008 Ashley Cole Match Attax card he had in storage. It reignited his love for collecting, so much so that he founded The Huddle FC so that he and other enthusiasts had somewhere to convene online.
Adarabioyo is young at heart, therefore, but by Stamford Bridge standards, he is getting on.
Tosin Adarabioyo (left) is a keen collector of football cards and attended the launch of Fanatics Collectibles’ flagship store on London’s Regent Street last week
He is also the oldest player that Chelsea have used in the Premier League this season, at the age of just 27
In Adarabioyo, Enzo Maresca has a captain without the armband, at least
Chelsea have not used a single player over the age of 27 in any of their 34 matches in the Premier League this season. That blows the previous record run of six games set by this weekend’s opponents Liverpool in 1999-2000 into oblivion. There’s young, and then there’s this.
Adarabioyo turns 28 in September so he is as close as it gets, and he was something of an outlier when he became Enzo Maresca’s first signing following his appointment. He was a free transfer from Fulham. He was only tied down to a four-year deal. He was older than their typical targets.
Newcastle and Atletico Madrid were also in for him at the time, and though he is on the outskirts of Maresca’s starting line-up, Chelsea sources cannot stress his influence enough internally.
During Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League win over Everton, amid a break in play due to injury, Adarabioyo was the only one on the bench standing up to speak with those players on the pitch as he issued tactical advice to Noni Madueke in particular.
While Chelsea’s defence will undergo some surgery this summer, Adarabioyo is not among those the Blues are actively looking to flip. That is not to say it is guaranteed he will stay – it is always possible for a rival club to come in with a proposal for their pondering – but they are not touting his attributes around during talks in the transfer market.
Maresca raised eyebrows last week when he hinted at his desire for extra experience in his squad, given he knew the youth-led approach that he was signing up for. In Adarabioyo, he has a captain without the armband, at least.
Reasons for Rosenior’s contract reward with sister club
Liam Rosenior signed a new contract with Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg until 2028 this week.
That was a reward for his work with the youngest squad in Europe’s elite leagues, but also to reduce the risk of losing him to any rival clubs tempted to try to bring him back to England.
Liam Rosenior signed a new contract with Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg until 2028 this week
Championship-bound Southampton were among those interested in Rosenior, but BlueCo made sure he will stay with Strasbourg for now by tying him down to his lengthier deal.
Factored in was how much progress has been made from the previous manager Patrick Vieira – particularly in the style of play – and how the value of Strasbourg’s squad has increased significantly with thanks to Rosenior’s improvements.
Scharer’s scribbling
Swiss referee Sandro Scharer will oversee Chelsea’s Conference League clash with Djurgarden in Stockholm, having also reffed Manchester United’s remarkable 5-4 win over Lyon in the Europa League two weeks ago, as well as Liverpool and Tottenham earlier this season.
Look out for Scharer if he happens to caution a player tomorrow night.
Look out for referee Sandro Scharer if he happens to caution a player tomorrow night
Previously, he’s not only jotted the name and number down in his notebook, but has scribbled the information on the palm of his hand to help him remember which players he has already booked.
Here’s hoping his hands aren’t too clammy. If you were like me and rubbish at science exams at school, you’ll know the panic that can set in when you find yourself in smudge city.
Gettin’ Gittens?
Our German media counterparts have gone strong on how close Chelsea are to signing Borussia Dortmund’s 20-year-old winger Jamie Gittens.
I’m hearing those reports are slightly premature, but the Blues are definitely interested in the youngster born and raised in Reading.
The Blues are definitely interested in Jamie Gittens, who was born and raised in Reading
Gittens is a right-footed left winger, which brings up questions as to plans for Jadon Sancho. Chelsea insiders maintain no decision has been made on his future.
They can get out of signing him permanently by paying a penalty to send him back to Manchester United this summer.
Anselmino’s solo training sessions after injury issues
While Chelsea’s first-team stars were training on one side of the pitch last week, Aaron Anselmino was doing individual work with a coach on the other.
Chelsea signed the Argentinian, who turned 20 on Tuesday, from Boca Juniors for £15.6million last summer and he arrived in January. He has not appeared for a single minute since.
Injury has played its part with him arriving with a hamstring issue, while his physicality needed building up in order to handle the rigours of the Premier League.
The likelihood is Anselmino will be sent on loan somewhere this summer so that he can gain further experience of European football, though no final call has yet been made.
Chelsea signed Aaron Anselmino, who turned 20 on Tuesday, from Boca Juniors for £15.6m last summer and he arrived in January. He has not appeared for a single minute since
This was Legia’s striking tifo before kick-off in their first leg against Chelsea
Uefa issue €20,000 fine
Chelsea fans who travelled for the Conference League quarter-final first leg at Legia Warsaw will remember the home side’s tifo before kick-off – the gruesome one showing a lion with a sword sticking through its face alongside the message: ‘FEAR NO ONE.’
Well, the Polish side have now been slapped with a €20,000 fine for breaching Article 16(2)(e) which relates to transmitting ‘a provocative message that is not fit for a sports event’.
When asked, UEFA would not confirm whether it was specifically for the graphic display, or for separate illicit chanting from their spirited ultras, or both.
Phew! Fab Four make it back from the Madrid blackout
Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella and Pedro Neto at the Madrid Open tennis tournament
Chelsea faced a potential problem this week when Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella and Pedro Neto all used their two free days to attend the Madrid Open tennis tournament, given the trip coincided with the power outages which caused travel chaos.
The Blues have their Conference League semi-final first leg with Djurgarden tomorrow night, followed by one of their biggest games of the Premier League season against the new champions Liverpool at home on Sunday, a match in which they will give a guard of honour.
Thankfully, the quartet managed to make it back safe and sound and in time for training on Tuesday.
