Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez will be absent from the club’s next two matches following comments about his future that manager Liam Rosenior described as crossing a line.
The 25-year-old Argentine, who joined Chelsea in January 2023 for a British record £107 million, expressed uncertainty about his long-term stay at Stamford Bridge after the team’s Champions League exit last month.
Fernandez later added that he would “like to live in Spain,” sparking speculation over a potential transfer.
According to BBC Sport on Friday, Rosenior confirmed that Fernandez will miss Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale, as well as the Premier League fixture against Manchester City on 12 April.
“It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way. 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.
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As a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect. He’s frustrated because he wants us to be successful,” Rosenior said.
He added, “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. It’s a sanction. You have to protect the culture, and in terms of that, a line was crossed.”
Chelsea have endured a challenging period, suffering four consecutive defeats in March and an 8-2 aggregate loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Despite this, Rosenior stressed that Fernandez’s remarks reflect his desire to see the club achieve success.