Chelsea vice-captain Enzo Fernandez has been dropped for two matches following comments the midfielder made about his future at the club that were described as “not ideal” by head coach Liam Rosenior.
The 25-year-old, who arrived for a then-British record £107 million fee from Benfica in January 2023, continues to be linked with Real Madrid.
Responding to Fernandez’s remarks and an interview by full-back Marc Cucurella saying the squad had been “discouraged” by a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16, Rosenior called upon his players to show more collective “emotional stability”.
What did World Cup winner Fernandez say? Which fixtures will he miss and when could he return? Here’s what we know about the saga.
What did Enzo Fernandez do? Real Madrid ‘similarity’
“I really like Madrid because it’s very similar to Buenos Aires,” Fernandez told Argentinian TV show Nadie Dice Nada in the interview that led to what Rosenior called a “sanction”. “The food, everything.”
Rosenior said it was “disappointing for Enzo to speak that way” after Fernandez had spent months being asked about speculation that 15-time European champions Madrid want to sign him.
“I have got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build,” he explained.
“As a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect. He’s frustrated because he wants us to be successful.
“In terms of the decision, it’s not all about me or the sporting directors. The ownership, the players – we are aligned in our decision.
“The door is not closed on Enzo. You have to protect the culture and, in terms of that, a line was crossed.”
Will Enzo Fernandez leave Chelsea?
Fernandez said in March that the end of former head coach Enzo Maresca’s 18-month reign in January had “hurt” Chelsea.
Among wide-ranging comments appearing to cricitise the club, Spain international Cucurella, who extended his contract in 2025, told The Athletic on March 31 that the squad was inexperienced and Maresca’s exit had caused a “big impact on us.”
Speaking after Chelsea’s Champions League exit, Fernandez acknowledged that he did not know whether he will be at Stamford Bridge next season.
“There are still a few months left in the season,” Fernandez told Ole when he was asked whether there had been interest from Real Madrid.
“Honestly, nothing – zero talks. Right now, we’re focused on Chelsea, on the remaining matches, and we’ll see after the World Cup.”
Rossenior – Maresca’s successor – reacted to those comments by pointing out that Fernandez is one of the captains at the club, claiming that he had “made it really clear how happy he is” and “how passionate he is for us to be successful” during a chat the day before a 3-0 defeat at Everton on March 21.
“I had a great conversation with Enzo at length before training – not just about his comments, but how he is feeling, how as a team we can improve,” Rosenior said at the time.
“He also [made his comments] in translation and in emotion. Things get misconstrued. For me, he is fully committed to this group and to winning here at this football club.”
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior insists Enzo Fernandez is ‘fully committed’ to the club, after the midfielder said he didn’t know if he will be there next season👀💪 pic.twitter.com/pMN205XgvK
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) March 19, 2026
Fernandez played throughout the loss at Everton, which condemned Chelsea to a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions.
Premier League managerial rookie Rosenior won six of his first seven matches in charge in all competitions but has lost seven out of 13 since then.
“A lot of this stems from a difficult 10 days in terms of results we have had – probably the most difficult for me as a player or manager,” he said of Fernandez and Cucurella’s latest interviews.
“The players were motivated that we could do something really special in the Champions League.
“The comments from Enzo and Marc Cucurella’s interview both stem from that. It actually stems from a good place where they want the club to succeed.
“But in those moments, we need more emotional stability as a group of players.”
The players’ futures may be affected if Chelsea fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with fifth place likely to ensure participation in the competition.
Chelsea sealed Champions League qualification on the final day of last season.
Which Chelsea matches will Enzo Fernandez miss?
The punishment from Chelsea ruled Fernandez out of their home FA Cup quarter-final against third-tier strugglers Port Vale and visit from second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League.
| Date | Opponents | Competition | BST start time | ET | PT |
| Apr 4 | Port Vale (H) | FA Cup | 17:15 | 12:15 | 09:15 |
| Apr 12 | Man City (H) | Premier League | 16:30 | 11:30 | 08:30 |
When is Enzo Fernandez’s next game for Chelsea?
Manchester United – who joined City in being one of the teams above Chelsea in the table at the time Fernandez received his punishment – could be the next team he faces.
Here are Chelsea’s remaining scheduled fixtures this season after Fernandez’s sanction ends. Should they beat Port Vale, they will be in the FA Cup semi-finals on the weekend of April 25 and their match at Brighton & Hove Albion will be rescheduled.
The FA Cup final takes place on May 16.
| Date | Opponents | BST | ET | PT |
| Apr 18 | Man United (H) | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 |
| Apr 26 | Brighton (A) | 16:30 | 11:30 | 08:30 |
| May 4 | Nottingham Forest (H) | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 |
| May 9 | Liverpool (A) | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 |
| May 17 | Tottenham (H) | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 |
| May 24 | Sunderland (A) | 16:00 | 11:00 | 08:00 |
Enzo Fernandez contract: Chelsea could face ‘agitation’
Fernandez is under contract until 2032 and the Guardian has suggested he wants an improved deal at the club.
“There is no time pressure on Chelsea to give him one, but that will not necessarily stop the player from agitating,” added the outlet.
When Fernandez extended his contract in 2024, the Standard cited documents putting his weekly wage at £180,000.
Enzo Fernandez stats
Fernandez has made 30 appearances for Chelsea this season, starting 29 times and playing for 2,583 minutes.
He has the second-most touches of any player in their squad, with 2,153, and has made 17 interceptions, as well as winning 21 of 48 tackles.
Of his 1,677 passes, Fernandez has supplied three assists, 48 key passes and 10 crosses, accurately finding a teammate 86% of the time.
An 89% short-passing accuracy is 2% below the team average, but Fernandez is 13% above Chelsea’s average accuracy for long passes, recording 58%. He has also been booked eight times.
Here’s a look at his goals record in 2025/26 at the time of his sanction.
| Goals | 8 |
| Right Foot | 7 |
| Left Foot | 0 |
| Header | 1 |
| Minutes per goal | 323 |
Did Enzo Fernandez play in Argentina’s World Cup build-up friendlies?
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni started Fernandez in his side’s two warm-up matches at Buenos Aires’s La Bombonera in March.
The 2022 World Cup winner and 2024 Copa America champion with his country scored the opener in a 2-1 win over Mauritania and was part of a 5-0 victory over Zambia, making way during the second half of both matches.
Argentina had been set to face Spain in the Finalissima in Qatar on March 27 before the game was called off because of the conflict in the Middle East, with the newly scheduled games allowing Fernandez a surprise return to his homeland.
“I’m going to enjoy being here with my teammates and play the friendlies,” said Fernandez when he arrived in Argentina.
“Now it’s time to enjoy being here with the national team and with my family. It’s been a long time since I’ve been back.
“I really missed being here, coming back to be with the people, my family, and enjoying this moment to the fullest.
“I see [first club River Plate] doing well, with contract renewals. I always wish them the best.”