Chelsea target Enzo Fernandez has ‘told Benfica he doesn’t want to play in their game on Friday night’ to force through his £112m move, as he pleads with president Rui Costa to give the move the green light
- Benfica star Enzo Fernandez is the subject of transfer interest from Chelsea
- Reports in Portugal claim he is trying to force through a move to the Blues
- Chelsea offered Fernandez a £106m buy-out clause to seal the deal
- The deal would make him the most expensive signing in Premier League history
Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez is reportedly trying to force a move to Chelsea by refusing to play in their game against Portimonense on Friday night.
The Blues are understood to have made a £112million offer to the Portuguese club for the Argentine World Cup winner.
The current offer would make him the most expensive signing in Premier League history. The fee is above his £106m buy-out clause but will be paid in three installments of £37.3m over three years.
Enzo Fernandez is refusing to play in Benfica’s match against Portimonense on Friday night
The 21-year-old has already angered his club by defying orders not to fly back to Argentina, and has also angered supporters by returning home to celebrate New Year’s Eve and missing two training sessions.
Fernandez took things further by telling Benfica he did not want to play in Friday night’s Primeira Liga fixture, according to Portuguese newspaper outlet Ojogo.
The same report suggests he has pleaded with club president Rui Costa to push through his move to Stamford Bridge.
The midfielder pleaded with Benfica president Rui Costa (pictured) to go ahead with his move
The 21-year-old has already angered his club by defying orders not to fly back to Argentina as he was pictured celebrating on New Year’s Eve
Fernandez came from his heroics in Qatar, where he helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, last week to feature in Benfica’s 3-0 Liga NOS defeat at Braga.
He then chose to fly to Buenos Aires following the Braga game to spend the New Year with his family, despite not receiving permission from the club.
Portuguese outlet Record reported that Fernandez was not present for either of Benfica’s two sessions on Monday and could even be handed a ‘heavy fine’ for breaching disciplinary regulations.
Benfica manager Roger Schmidt confirmed there will be no ‘exceptions’ for players traveling in the New Year after Fernandez left for home.
‘We are a professional football team, the rules are for all players,’ said Schmidt.
Fernandez first returned to Benfica last week after winning the World Cup with Argentina
‘It is very important for all players to rest between games, to be ready for the next game. There are no exceptions there.’
Benfica insist they do not want to sell Fernandez in the January window and have also offered him an improved contract.
The club admitted the World Cup winner’s head had been turned by the attraction of a move to London in a lucrative deal.
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