Enzo Fernandez left out of Chelsea squad for Port Vale and Manchester City matches after remarks on future

Fernandez ruled out for two fixtures

Enzo Fernandez will not play in Chelsea’s next two matches, missing the FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and the following Premier League game against Manchester City. Head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed the decision at his press conference, describing it as a sanction linked to comments Fernandez made about his future during the international break.

The midfielder has been regularly linked with a possible summer move, with Real Madrid described as a target destination. During the break, Fernandez gave remarks that intensified attention on his long-term plans, including saying “I don’t know” when asked if he would still be at Chelsea next season.

Rosenior stressed that the club’s response was rooted in internal standards rather than a judgment on Fernandez’s overall character. “It’s disappointing to speak in that way,” he said, while adding that he had “no bad words” to say about Fernandez as a person.

Rosenior: “A line was crossed in terms of our culture”

Rosenior framed the decision as a matter of protecting Chelsea’s culture. “But a line was crossed in terms of our culture. We had to make a sanction,” he said.

He also made clear the door remains open for Fernandez going forward. “The door is not closed on Enzo - that’s very important,” Rosenior said. “It’s a sanction. You have to protect this club and culture, and in terms of that, the line was crossed in the international break.”

Rosenior described the decision as a collective one within the club. “In terms of the decision, we are aligned in every decision that we make, so it was a joint decision,” he said.

While the coach acknowledged Fernandez’s frustration, he presented it as connected to the team’s ambitions rather than a lack of professionalism. Rosenior said Fernandez “wanted Chelsea to be successful this year” and “still wants that,” adding that the club still believes it can achieve its aims.

What Fernandez said during the international break

Fernandez’s comments came after a difficult period for Chelsea, including a heavy Champions League last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Speaking to ESPN Argentina, he was asked if he would remain at the club next season and replied: “I don’t know.”

He added: “My focus is here now. Then the World Cup coming up, so we’ll see after that.”

During his time with Argentina, he also spoke to Marcos Giles, an Argentine media personality, and said: “I really like Madrid - it’s similar to Buenos Aires.” When asked whether he would consider living in Madrid, he answered: “Yes, of course.”

Those remarks have been set against the backdrop of transfer speculation, with Real Madrid planning to sign a midfielder this summer and Fernandez named among potential targets.

Rosenior avoids speaking for the player’s happiness

Asked directly whether the 25-year-old is happy at Chelsea, Rosenior said he could not speak on the player’s behalf. “I can’t speak for him,” he replied.

However, Rosenior pointed to Fernandez’s on-field efforts as evidence of commitment. He referenced the midfielder’s performance even in defeat, saying that “when he’s been on the pitch… there was no lack of commitment in his performance.”

On what Fernandez may want next, Rosenior again drew a boundary. “In terms of speaking for him and what he wants in his future, that’s not for me to speak about,” he said.

Transfer context: contract length, valuation and summer plans

Fernandez is Chelsea’s vice-captain and has a contract running until 2032. The club’s stance, as outlined, is that Chelsea would only consider an offer of more than £100m for a player regarded as key to the squad.

At the same time, it was stated that Fernandez is not viewed as untouchable. Chelsea are also planning to sign a new midfielder this summer, underlining that recruitment remains active regardless of the current situation.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are planning to sign a midfielder in the coming window, with Fernandez and Manchester City’s Rodri mentioned among their targets. It was also noted that it remains to be seen whether Real Madrid would spend more than £100m on Fernandez when cheaper options may be available.

Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica for a then-British record £106.8m three years ago, a fee that continues to shape the conversation around his market value and status within the squad.

Agent calls the decision “completely unfair”

Fernandez’s agent, Javier Pastore, criticised the sanction and described it as “completely unfair” in an interview. Pastore said the player “didn’t understand the situation” but accepted it after being told, describing Fernandez as “a highly professional guy” who respects decisions.

Pastore argued that the comments did not amount to a public request to leave the club. “We don’t understand the punishment because he doesn’t mention any club or say he wants to leave Chelsea, far from it,” he said.

He added that Fernandez only referenced Madrid as a city when asked where he might like to live one day. Pastore said the player chose Madrid because of language and familiarity, describing it as similar to Buenos Aires, and also cited “the culture and the weather.”

“But at no point does he say he wants to leave Chelsea or London,” Pastore said.

Contract renewal talks have stalled, agent says

Pastore also revealed that discussions over a new contract have not progressed. He said talks began around December or January but did not lead to an agreement.

According to Pastore, because Fernandez’s contract still has six years to run, the decision was taken not to renew on the terms discussed. “Given what Enzo is capable of today, he deserves much more than he’s currently earning,” he said.

Pastore suggested that the lack of agreement may have caused frustration, while noting that negotiations are part of football. He said the plan is to meet with Chelsea again after the World Cup and, if there is still no agreement, “to explore other options.”

Cucurella comments addressed differently

Fernandez was not the only Chelsea player to speak publicly during the international break. Defender Marc Cucurella criticised the club’s policy of signing young players and also questioned the impact of Enzo Maresca’s departure on recent struggles.

Rosenior confirmed he had spoken to Cucurella about the interview but took a different approach in terms of selection. No disciplinary action will be taken against Cucurella, and Rosenior said the defender remains available for selection. He even indicated Cucurella could captain the side against Port Vale, listing him among the options to wear the armband.

Still, Rosenior said the comments should have been handled internally. He described a “fantastic conversation” with Cucurella in his office that lasted half an hour, but said his disappointment was that the concerns were aired publicly rather than raised directly with the coaching staff and sporting directors.

Rosenior’s message to players: bring issues inside the club

Rosenior said he has tried to set expectations since arriving, telling players to speak to him if they have concerns. “I’ve said to them from day one, if they’ve got any issue with how we do things, to come and speak to me, and speak to the sporting directors,” he said.

He added that he wants players to feel they can speak “openly and honestly for the benefit of the football club,” but stressed that those conversations should happen internally first.

Rosenior also said relationship-building takes time, pointing out he has only been in the role for a short period and that the team has played a heavy run of matches in that span. He described Cucurella as “a great character” who spoke with passion, and said the defender has made clear he is committed and believes in the direction of travel.

Why the club believes emotions played a role

Rosenior said the public comments from both Fernandez and Cucurella came after what he described as “a really, really difficult 10 days,” calling it the most difficult 10-day stretch of his career as a player or coach.

He pointed back to the first match against PSG, saying belief was high before a collapse over a short period, leading to what he called a “huge emotional dump” that appeared to spill into subsequent matches.

In Rosenior’s view, the comments were not rooted in indifference but in frustration that Chelsea’s season had not matched the group’s ambitions. “It actually stems from a good place where they want to do well; they want the club to succeed,” he said, while arguing the team needs to respond to setbacks with greater stability.

“Emotional stability” flagged as a summer priority

Rosenior said the club has discussed summer plans with ownership and sporting directors, and he used the phrase “players with emotional stability” when describing the type of recruitment Chelsea believe they need.

“Bringing good characters in, who in difficult moments can understand what it takes to win in those difficult moments,” he said.

He added that there have also been conversations with players within the current group who are “really, really happy with the direction” the club intends to take.

Expected transfer activity and confirmed arrivals

Chelsea are expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer. It was stated that signings are expected to include established players with proven Premier League experience.

The club’s priorities were outlined as follows:

• A centre-back signing is planned.
• A midfielder will be signed.
• A goalkeeper signing cannot be ruled out, with one possibility being Mike Penders returning from a loan at Strasbourg.

Two players have already signed deals to join Chelsea in the summer: Strasbourg forward Emmanuel Emegha and Sporting Lisbon winger Geovany Quenda.

What happens next for Chelsea and Fernandez

In the immediate term, Chelsea must navigate two major fixtures without Fernandez: an FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and a league match against Manchester City. The absence removes one of the club’s most prominent midfielders from selection at a pivotal point in the season.

Beyond those games, Rosenior’s comments suggest the situation is being treated as a disciplinary matter with a pathway back, rather than a definitive break. “The door is not closed,” he said, while reiterating the club’s desire to protect standards.

With transfer speculation continuing and contract discussions described by the player’s agent as unresolved, the coming months look set to involve continued scrutiny of both Chelsea’s results and the internal dynamics Rosenior is trying to shape. For now, the club’s position is that the sanction is about maintaining culture, even as it balances the footballing cost of leaving out a key player for two high-profile matches.