Chelsea already have their own Luka Modric and Zinedine Zidane as huge money transfer impresses
The Argentine talent Enzo Fernandez, who plays as a midfielder for Chelsea, has drawn comparisons to two of Real Madrid’s legendary players.
He is determined to replicate his success at the World Cup by leading his team to European victory this season. Fernandez’s rise to prominence was rapid following his £10 million move from South America to Benfica last summer.
Despite commanding a transfer fee of £106.7 million – the third-largest in history – after his transfer to Chelsea during the January window, the 22-year-old has settled in quickly in London.
Given the pressure that has been mounting on Chelsea’s manager Graham Potter in the past two months, it was crucial for Fernandez to adapt to his new team as soon as possible.
Fernandez’s integration into the team has played a significant role in the recent turnaround of Potter and his squad. He has been deployed as a tempo-dictator in front of the defense and has already played alongside various partners.
In the 3-1 victory against Leicester on Saturday, Fernandez showcased his skills with a sublime lofted assist for Kai Havertz, his second in the league.
His previous assist was a clip into the box for Joao Felix to score against West Ham.
These assists have been of high quality, not just simple lay-offs or square balls.
In comparison, Jorginho, who departed in January, only managed to register five assists across four and a half seasons in the Premier League for Chelsea and didn’t manage any in the previous campaign.
While Fernandez’s assists have been impressive, his impact on the team goes beyond just the numbers.
He aims to bring a new spark to Chelsea as they strive to win the Champions League this season.
Winning this competition is not only crucial for the team’s hopes of qualifying for it again next season, but it is also the only significant trophy that they can realistically win before the end of the current campaign.
Despite the massive price tag, the high expectations, and the fact that Chelsea’s only chance at a significant trophy this season is the Champions League, Fernandez was not deterred from joining the team in the winter transfer window.
Chelsea is hoping that Fernandez can achieve the level of European pedigree that has been demonstrated by Zinedine Zidane and Luka Modric in the last two decades.
The midfield duo has won six Champions League trophies between them as players, and Zidane has added an additional three as a coach. Their dominance in the competition is almost unparalleled, and this is the level that Chelsea hopes Fernandez can attain.
Jose Peseiro, the former Sporting CP and Porto manager, said of Fernandez: “His passes and vision remind me of Zinedine Zidane. He also finds solutions just by controlling the ball in a certain way. His level is absolutely amazing.”
These are elements of his game that have only just begun to be seen in England too. “He has a panoramic view of the game and a refined touch, very similar to Luka Modric,” a previous mentor at River Plate told Argentinian paper, Clarin.
Chelsea has a history of attempting to sign Modric before he joined Real Madrid, and now they have managed to acquire one of the world’s best young talents in Fernandez, beating out other competitors.
Although the transfer fee was hefty, it will not matter in the long run if Fernandez can achieve the level of success and recognition that Modric and Zidane have attained in their careers.
Chelsea already have their own Luka Modric and Zinedine Zidane as huge money transfer impresses
