Benfica boss Roger Schmidt admits £106m Chelsea concentrate on Enzo Fernandez could have performed his closing activity for the club – as experiences in Portugal claim Argentine Earth Cup star ‘did not want to play in defeat at Braga’
Benfica supervisor Roger Schmidt admits Chelsea concentrate on Enzo Fernandez may possibly have played his past match for the Portuguese club – amid promises the Argentina World Cup winner did not want to take part in Friday’s defeat towards Sporting Braga.
Chelsea have made ‘a substantial offer’ for the midfielder, who served Argentina acquire this month’s World Cup last, but it is recognized to be in instalments relatively than his £106million launch clause outright.
The 21-calendar year-previous was picked to participate in for Benfica from Braga on Friday evening but has previously instructed his club he is open up to generating the shift if Chelsea can concur a payment.
Enzo Fernandez might have played his last Benfica video game on Friday, states manager Roger Schmidt
Schmidt praised Fernandez for being a ‘great player’ but admits they have to see what happens
The 21-year-previous starred for Argentina in the course of their World Cup triumph in Qatar
And Schmidt admitted just after Benfica’s defeat at Braga that he is not guaranteed no matter if Fernandez will play for the club yet again.
‘I never know if that was the last match of Enzo,’ he stated. ‘I believe Enzo is a good player. Due to the fact he arrived at Benfica, he’s performed wonderful football.
‘Also, as a particular person, he is absolutely determined with the club.
‘Like I said in advance of the match, occasionally issues in soccer materialize and then players have to make decisions. We will see what takes place [in the] upcoming weeks.’
It really is considered that Fernandez did not really want to perform in the match because he did not come to feel in the finest problem, in accordance to Record.
Nonetheless, even with only a short while ago returning from Qatar, he was swayed by Schmidt and Rui Costa to play.
Graham Potter’s Chelsea are keen to indicator midfielders and Fernandez is their top target
Speaking forward of his side’s league trip to Braga on Friday, Schmidt had also disclosed that his most talented stars will normally be at danger of remaining offered the moment the transfer window opens on January 1.
Benfica have insisted all along they do not wish to offer Fernandez during the January window and have also provided him an enhanced contract, but they recognise the Entire world Cup winner’s head has been turned by the attraction of moving to London in a valuable offer.
Liverpool, whose precedence is Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, Manchester United and Newcastle also fee Fernandez hugely but have not produced provides. Benfica’s valuation is regarded also superior.
Fernandez performed a pivotal part in Argentina’s Entire world Cup triumph and even gained the Young Participant of the Match accolade for his performances.
His staff-mates Lionel Messi and Emiliano Martinez received the Participant of the Tournament and Golden Glove trophies respectively.