Enzo Fernandez was airborne. His header looped and then nestled in the Egypt net. An act of Argentinian escapology was a glorious goal that is destined for a place in folklore in his homeland. The comeback of champions was sealed by Fernandez; 2-0 down after 78 minutes, 3-2 up after 94.
Whether or not it enables Argentina to retain the World Cup, it should at least prove the defining moment of the midfielder’s tournament. Because, until now, it came off the field, in the form of a Comunicado Oficial, a Real Madrid statement denying everything. “The club wishes to state that it has not made any efforts, either directly or indirectly, aimed at signing the aforementioned player and, furthermore, has no intention of pursuing such an operation,” they said.
Which was both remarkable and, presumably, a blow, given that Fernandez looked to be talking his way out of Chelsea. For a World Cup winner, the Bernabeu may have appeared a more fitting home than a club who finished 10th in last season’s Premier League. When Real went public with their lack of interest, it may have reflected Chelsea’s propensity for litigiousness – see also, Enzo Maresca’s grovelling apology for leaving, a prerequisite of his appointment at Manchester City – or that, fine a footballer as he is, Fernandez might not merit a place in the Real midfield.
He has company. The Albiceleste dressing room can seem to contain a host of frustrated figures, trapped by lucrative contracts they signed with clubs they feel they have outgrown. Emi Martinez looked keen to join Manchester United last year. Cristian Romero appeared to want a Tottenham exit with Atletico Madrid linked. While Julian Alvarez appears to want to quit Atletico for Barcelona.
Fernandez represents an instructive case. The 2022 World Cup was transformative for him. He started it on the bench, ended it named the best younger player in the tournament and with the most coveted medal in the sport.
He had joined Benfica for €10m a few months before the World Cup. He moved on to Chelsea for £106m (€120m) a few weeks after the final. He agitated for that move, too. “We lost a great player but I’m not going to cry for a player who doesn’t want to represent Benfica,” said the club president, and Portugal great, Rui Costa.
Fernandez’s less-than-subtle intervention in March, when he talked about wanting to live in Madrid, seemed a repeat. It was, though, Marc Cucurella who was allowed to swap Stamford Bridge for the Bernabeu. Fernandez may have underestimated the downsides of joining Chelsea for such a huge fee – prompting suggestions they would want even more to sell him – and on such a long contract, until 2031.
A decidedly mixed Chelsea career brought 15 goals this season, some fine form, especially under Enzo Maresca: but insufficient evidence to suggest he is what Real require in the centre of the pitch. Fernandez could complete the double of winning the Club World Cup and the World Cup in New York in successive summers: but his only other silverware with Chelsea is the Conference League.
Which may reflect an issue that might deter Real. Fernandez could belong in the bracket of players who delivers more for country than club. Lionel Scaloni hit on a formula in 2022, establishing a trio of Rodrigo de Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Fernandez, each capable of marrying passing ability with a capacity to scrap for his country. None is a pure defensive midfielder, but they share a collective commitment to defending. It was enough in 2022; it may not be in 2026, when both Cape Verde and Egypt have scored twice against Argentina. Scaloni’s side were far too open in Atlanta. Fernandez’s recovery act was only necessary because Argentina got themselves in such trouble.
But if Fernandez can seem to have an excessive opinion of himself – he may not be alone in the Argentina dressing room in that, and that may be a reason why some don’t get the transfers they demand – he has at least shown the main character energy to deliver late goals. Those 15 strikes for Chelsea included an injury-time equaliser at Manchester City, a similarly late winner against West Ham. He scored away at Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool.
Maybe that knack for delivering in major moments will offer Fernandez an alternative exit strategy for Chelsea amid the summer’s midfield merry-go-round. The probability, however, may be that he is priced out of a move or confined to a club who are out of the Champions League.
If so, a World Cup could assume still more importance for him; and that is when there is a widespread feeling that many an Argentinian footballer already puts country ahead of club. This could be Enzo Fernandez’s only opportunity to occupy a position of such prominence. And Egypt can testify that he, and Argentina, are not in a mood to give it up.
