{"id":12908,"date":"2026-05-27T17:18:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T17:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=12908"},"modified":"2026-05-27T17:18:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T17:18:39","slug":"chelsea-slap-club-record-price-tag-on-enzo-fernandez-with-midfielder-interested-in-leaving-this-summer-after-flirting-with-move-to-real-madrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=12908","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea slap club-record price tag on Enzo Fernandez with midfielder interested in LEAVING this summer &#8211; after flirting with move to Real Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"js-article-text\" wp_automatic_readability=\"85.824513172967\">\n<p class=\"author-section byline-plain\">By KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER <\/p>\n<p class=\"byline-section\"><span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-published\"> <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Published:<\/span> <time datetime=\"2026-05-27T17:31:39+0100\">  17:31 BST, 27 May 2026 <\/time> <\/span>  | <span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-updated\"> <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Updated:<\/span> <time datetime=\"2026-05-27T17:49:56+0100\">  17:49 BST, 27 May 2026 <\/time> <\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <!-- ad: https:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v8\/de\/sport\/football\/article\/other\/para_top.html --> <!-- CWV --><link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-design-system\/latest\/designTokens.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/><!--(if !IE)><!--> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-async-bundle\/11.78.0\/articleDefer.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <!--<!(endif)--> <!--(if IE)>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/1.17.0\/registration--.css\" media=\"screen\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/>\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if !IE)><!--> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/18.5.1\/registration--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <!--<!(endif)--><!--(if IE)>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/1.17.0\/all-ie8-9--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/1.17.0\/all1-ie8-9--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/>\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if !IE)><!--> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-sync-bundle\/15.91.2\/desktop.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/18.5.1\/all--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/><link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/18.5.1\/all1--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <!--<!(endif)--> <!--(if IE 8)>\n\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if IE 9)>\n\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if IE)>\n\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if !IE)> -->   <!--<!(endif)--><!-- SiteCatalyst code version: H.20.3.\n    Copyright 1997-2009 Omniture, Inc. More info available at\n    http:\/\/www.omniture.com -->  <\/p>\n<p>         <!-- End SiteCatalyst code version: H.20.3. --> <\/p>\n<p> <!--(if IE)>\n\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if !IE)> -->   <!--<!(endif)--><!--(if IE)>\n  \n  <noscript><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/gunther-2159\/video_bundle--.css\"><\/noscript>\n  \n<!(endif)--> <!--(if !IE)> -->\n  <link rel=\"preload\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/videoplayer\/7.16.0\/styles\/mol-fe-videoplayer.min.css\" as=\"style\" onload=\"this.rel=\" stylesheet=\"\" \/>\n  <noscript><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/videoplayer\/7.16.0\/styles\/mol-fe-videoplayer.min.css\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p> <!-- <!(endif)-->\n        <link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Lora:wght@700&amp;display=swap\" \/>\n        <link rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" href=\"https:\/\/scripts.dailymail.co.uk\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-xpmodule-join-debate\/1.3.0\/index.css\" \/>\n<p>      <!-- CWV --><\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\" wp_automatic_readability=\"63.15778326862\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Chelsea will demand a club-record \u00a3120million if wantaway Enzo Fernandez insists on being sold this summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Real Madrid are one of the only contenders in world football who could afford to prise the Argentinian away from Stamford Bridge \u2013 with Manchester City, soon to be managed by Fernandez\u2019s former head coach Enzo Maresca, prioritising a move for Nottingham Forest\u2019s Elliot Anderson instead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Fernandez is believed to be interested in exiting Chelsea after they failed to qualify for European football next season. While Blues sources say the World Cup winner is currently a part of their plans for their next campaign under Xabi Alonso \u2013 and that they would be happy to keep their 25-year-old vice-captain \u2013 they will not allow him to leave on the cheap if he wants a summer sale.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Speculation has long surrounded Fernandez\u2019s future ever since his agent, Javier Pastore, publicly admitted they would explore their options this summer if no new contract was forthcoming from Chelsea. Talks have been held, but unlike with Reece James and Moises Caicedo, no agreement over fresh terms has been found. Fernandez has also openly flirted with Madrid over the previous season, with his comments seeing him handed an internal two-game ban by his own club after the last international break.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A package worth \u00a3120m would make him the third-largest sale in English football history, after Philippe Coutinho (\u00a3142m, from Liverpool to Barcelona) and Aleksandar Isak (\u00a3125m, from Newcastle to Liverpool).<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-597ec81755b6c5d6\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/27\/17\/108908529-15852957-image-a-1_1779898114843.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Chelsea have slapped a \u00a3120m price tag on Enzo Fernandez ahead of the transfer window\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Chelsea have slapped a \u00a3120m price tag on Enzo Fernandez ahead of the transfer window<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-mol-fe-xpmodule-join-debate=\"{&quot;env&quot;:{&quot;brand&quot;:&quot;dailymail&quot;,&quot;channel&quot;:&quot;football&quot;,&quot;geo&quot;:&quot;de&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;mol.web.desktop&quot;,&quot;topParentChannel&quot;:&quot;sport&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;\/sport\/football\/article-15852957\/Chelsea-price-Enzo-Fernandez.html?ns_mchannel=rss&amp;ns_campaign=1490&amp;ito=1490&quot;,&quot;environment&quot;:&quot;production&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;mol-fe-xpmodule-join-debate-default@1&quot;,&quot;version&quot;:&quot;1.3.0&quot;,&quot;xForwardedHost&quot;:&quot;www.dailymail.com&quot;,&quot;zkConfig&quot;:{&quot;bundle-versions&quot;:{&quot;default&quot;:{&quot;bv&quot;:&quot;18.5.1&quot;,&quot;vbv&quot;:&quot;7.16.0&quot;,&quot;fesbv&quot;:&quot;15.91.2&quot;,&quot;feabv&quot;:&quot;11.78.0&quot;,&quot;abv&quot;:&quot;13.0.0&quot;,&quot;expire-after&quot;:31536000,&quot;tag&quot;:&quot;fe_desktop_default&quot;}},&quot;bundle-versions-mobile&quot;:{&quot;default&quot;:{&quot;bv&quot;:&quot;12.6.0&quot;,&quot;vbv&quot;:&quot;7.16.0&quot;,&quot;fesbv&quot;:&quot;15.91.2&quot;,&quot;feabv&quot;:&quot;11.78.0&quot;,&quot;abv&quot;:&quot;13.0.0&quot;,&quot;expire-after&quot;:31536000,&quot;tag&quot;:&quot;fe_mobile_default&quot;}},&quot;games-platypuzz-build-version&quot;:&quot;15.0.14&quot;}},&quot;question&quot;:&quot;Do YOU think football players worth their price tag?&quot;}\" data-reactroot=\"\">\n<div class=\"app--s6cJU\" wp_automatic_readability=\"6\">\n<p><span class=\"titleText--LYcWe\">Join the discussion<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"questionContainer--fpHYN\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7\">\n<p class=\"questionText--qEDdN\">Do YOU think football players worth their price tag?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Chelsea insiders have scoffed at \u00a370m valuations appearing abroad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The Blues spent a then-British record \u00a3106.8m when they signed Fernandez from Benfica in 2023. He has been used in midfield and as a No 10, as well as off the left-hand side occasionally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Fernandez was seen waving towards the away fans after their 2-1 loss away at Sunderland on the season\u2019s final day which left them with a 10th-placed finish in the Premier League. As a result of that defeat in which he wore the captain&#8217;s armband, Chelsea will not be competing in Europe under Alonso next term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Fernandez has won the Club World Cup and Conference League with Chelsea, but he has courted controversy at times. After winning the Copa America with Argentina in 2024, he was widely criticised for singing a racist song afterwards, though his boss at the time, Maresca, installed him as captain barely a month later when their Premier League campaign began.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">His interview during the last international break increased the noise linking him with Real, as then-head coach Liam Rosenior punished him with a two-match suspension. Fernandez\u2019s agent, Pastore, expressed his disappointment with that decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>            <!-- ad: https:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v8\/de\/sport\/football\/article\/other\/inread_player.html --><\/p>\n<p>  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/02\/636x90_facebook_ad_sport.png\" width=\"636\" height=\"90\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"column-content cleared\">\n<div class=\"shareArticles\">\n<h3 class=\"social-links-title\">Share or comment on this article:<br \/>\n                        Chelsea slap club-record price tag on Enzo Fernandez with midfielder interested in LEAVING this summer &#8211; after flirting with move to Real Madrid<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <ad-slot position=\"smart_feed\"><\/ad-slot><\/p>\n<p>            <ad-slot position=\"after_article\"><\/ad-slot><\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER Published: 17:31 BST, 27 May 2026 | Updated: 17:49&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12908"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12908\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}