Xabi Alonso to consider tough Enzo Fernandez decision with Chelsea transfer stance clear

Enzo Fernandez is starring for Argentina at the World Cup while in the background, his Chelsea future is the subject of mass speculation

Picture this: it’s the 93rd minute in Atlanta; World Cup last-16; Argentina defending football’s ultimate prize; the South Americans are level at 2-2 after going two goals down to Egypt; Lautaro Martinez with a deep cross towards the back post; Enzo Fernandez crashes the box.

The last part of that list is something Chelsea supporters have become accustomed to seeing over the past couple of seasons. As a rule in that period, the bigger the game, the brighter Fernandez shone. There are not too many bigger games in football than representing your country at a World Cup – and, of course, in a knockout match.

So, predictably, and rather inevitably, Fernandez guided the header into the corner. The celebrations afterwards were wild – they told you everything you needed to know about how big that goal was to the whole of Argentina. The celebrations in the crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium told you everything you needed to know about how much it meant to the Argentinians.

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“I’ve just scored the goal of my life,” a jubilant Fernandez said post-match. “We were on the ropes and we pushed forward with everything we know. We’re a team with heart.”

That, Argentina are. The reigning world champions showed once again why they are never down and out. The reward: a quarter-final meeting with Switzerland and if they are to progress through that, a potential semi-final with England (or Norway, of course).

Fernandez’s focus is on defending Argentina’s status as the best in the world, but the questions that followed over his future were inevitable. They come just days after Real Madrid, the team Fernandez dreams of representing one day, released a statement saying they have “no intention” of pursuing a move for the Chelsea midfielder this summer.

“I’m not thinking about my future now,” replied a coy Fernandez. “I’m here living this moment that is incredible for me and after the World Cup, we’ll see…”

Javier Pastore, Fernandez’s outspoken agent, is working behind the scenes to try and sort his client’s future. Fernandez wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and Chelsea will not stand in his way as long as the club’s £120million asking price is met.

At the time of writing, however, Real – to the club’s own admission – are out of the race to sign the 25-year-old. Chelsea sources continue to insist there is an expectation Fernandez will be playing his football in west London next season and that he remains a highly-rated and valued member of the squad Xabi Alonso has inherited.

Once again, though, Fernandez failed to commit his future to Chelsea.

Alonso is set to take his first training session as Blues manager on Thursday this week as pre-season gets underway at Cobham. Of course, the Chelsea stars not selected for the World Cup, most notably Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, will get the opportunity to work with their new gaffer at an earlier date and those representing their countries in North America will have to wait.

The Chelsea players reaching the latter stages of the competition are more likely to join up with their club teammates during their pre-season tour, where the Blues travel to Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia later this month/early into August. Fernandez is set to be one of those that join pre-season late, with the Argentine to be given a break once his World Cup exploits have concluded.

The big question is: where does Alonso, if Fernandez ends up staying this summer, see the Argentinian’s best position? In the last couple of seasons, we have seen a box-crashing Fernandez and that is where he has been most impactful during his Chelsea tenure. That has predominantly come from the No.10 position, but we do not know for sure the system Alonso plans on using.

The Spaniard is a tactically-flexible coach, so it is unlikely to be just the one formation he uses when his Stamford Bridge career officially gets underway. Fernandez has looked more of a threat higher up the pitch for Chelsea, and in a deeper role, the defensive side of his game has often let him down.

It is something Alonso will already be thinking about; not just in relation to Fernandez, but to all of his new players. Either way, as Gary Neville summed up perfectly after Argentina’s win over Egypt on Tuesday evening, Chelsea will – as long as Real Madrid don’t go against their word – have a “hell of a footballer” on their hands next season.