Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez will sit out the club’s next two matches after comments he made about his future sparked concern within the squad, according to Sky Sports.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior confirmed Fernandez will miss Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash against Port Vale and next weekend’s Premier League encounter with Manchester City.
The decision comes after Fernandez, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer, made remarks that raised questions over his commitment to Chelsea.
Speaking to ESPN Argentina after Chelsea’s heavy UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Fernandez said, “I don’t know” when asked if he expected to remain at Chelsea beyond this season.
“My focus is here now. Then the World Cup coming up, so we’ll see after that.”
Rosenior addressed the situation at his Friday press conference, noting that while he has no personal issues with Fernandez, the midfielder’s comments crossed a line in terms of the club’s culture.
“It’s disappointing to speak in that way. What I will say about Enzo is that, in terms of him as a person, I’ve got no bad words to say,” Rosenior said.
“But a line was crossed in terms of our culture. We had to make a sanction.”
Despite Fernandez’s absence, Rosenior confirmed no disciplinary action would be taken against Marc Cucurella, who had publicly criticised Chelsea’s transfer strategy and commented on the exit of Enzo Maresca during the international break.
The club will now hope to move past the controversy as it prepares for crucial fixtures in both the FA Cup and Premier League, while speculation over Fernandez’s potential Real Madrid transfer continues to dominate headlines.
