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Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández has reportedly upset several of his teammates with his very public courtship of Real Madrid, according to a new report.
The Telegraph reports that Fernández's frequent and repeated remarks about the Spanish giants have irritated a dressing room already dissatisfied with the Argentine's conduct as vice-captain. Both private and public confrontations have rubbed people the wrong way at a time when everyone at Chelsea is facing enormous scrutiny.
With contract extension negotiations showing little sign of progress, Fernández's position appears to have developed into a full-blown issue that has affected multiple players within the squad.
What Has Enzo Fernández Said About Real Madrid?
Real Madrid have long been loosely connected to Fernández, with little hard evidence to back those rumors, but things began to intensify in mid-March when an Argentine report suggested the midfielder was willing to leave Chelsea.
Following Chelsea's embarrassing Champions League exit, Fernández publicly declined to dismiss the possibility of a departure with the tantalizingly vague response of "we'll see." He reaffirmed his commitment to Chelsea just days later following a backlash from supporters, but soon began sending signals toward Madrid.
While simultaneously casting doubt on the decision to part with manager Enzo Maresca in January, Fernández twice expressed his desire to live in the Spanish capital during the international break, though he stopped short of mentioning the club by name.
During an appearance on LUZU TV in his home country of Argentina, Fernández also cited both Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos as personal inspirations. While there is nothing inherently wrong with admiring two of the finest creative midfielders of their era, many have raised eyebrows at the timing of those remarks.
Why Are Chelsea Players Annoyed?
The spectacle of a player of Fernández's stature deliberately creating uncertainty around his own future has, predictably, not been well received in the dressing room — but the report indicates that is only part of the story.
Fernández is said to have grown increasingly outspoken during Chelsea's recent losing streak, openly criticizing teammates on the field and making no effort to conceal his frustration after defeats once the cameras are switched off.
Goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen was on the receiving end of a notable outburst from Fernández following an error against Paris Saint-Germain, with that kind of behavior doing little to endear him to a squad already trying to cope with mounting pressure at a critical stage of the season.
Fernández is clearly a fiery character who rarely holds back when it comes to expressing his emotions on the pitch.
Former teammates, including Mason Mount and Noni Madueke, have both been on the receiving end of on-field confrontations and hot-tempered moments from Chelsea's vice-captain, but those growing frustrated have been quick to note that those players did far less to destabilize the club than Fernández has with his recent overtures toward Madrid.
Mikel John Obi Blasts 'Disrespectful' Fernández in Explicit Rant
Mikel John Obi was a relatively reserved figure during his 11-year spell at Chelsea between 2006 and 2017. Since launching his Obi One Podcast, however, he has taken every opportunity to speak candidly about his former club on multiple occasions.
Fernández's remarks were a central topic on his most recent episode, and Mikel — who made 372 appearances for Chelsea during his time at Stamford Bridge — pulled no punches.
"That's not a leader," he said bluntly. "That's something where if you have leaders, if you have leaders that players respect and look up to, you wouldn't come out and make those statements because you'd be thinking, 'How is this going to go down in the dressing room? How is this going to go down with the top players, the big players, when they see this?'
"You were the captain in that game and you come out and make those statements ... how would that go down well with the senior players in the dressing room?
"He's looked at it and he's thinking, 'Who the f--- is going to hold me responsible in that dressing room?' No one! The leadership is not there.
"So he thinks, 'I can come out, say whatever the f--- I want, no one is going to hold me responsible,' and that's exactly what happened.
"For him to come out and make such a statement after we've been disgracefully dumped out of the Champions League, and you come out after wearing the captain's armband ... no player is bigger than the football club.
"If he's had enough, put your hands up, f--- off and we move on. We move on. No player is bigger than the football club, especially a club as huge as Chelsea.
"You cannot come out and say that. It doesn't matter what is going on. It doesn't matter what is happening, you're being paid handsomely to be at this football club, you should be grateful that you're playing for a club like Chelsea.
"When you come out and make that statement, that is very, very disrespectful to the football club and to the fans."