Will Enzo Fernandez be punished for racism row? Latest update on Chelsea star's inflammatory song about Kylian Mbappe
ENZO FERNANDEZ takes on his old club Benfica tonight at the heart of the Chelsea revolution under boss Enzo Maresca.
The Portuguese giants made a staggering £96million PROFIT when they sold the Argentinian midfielder to the Blues in 2023 — just six months after buying him for £10m.
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Even so, the fixture reopens old wounds over his departure — and a most unsavoury incident which took place a year ago next month.
Benfica were angry at the way they claimed Chelsea unsettled their player and then ducked and dived during negotiations. But that's business.
What is not 'business' is the cloud of racism hanging over the Blues' vice-captain that is not yet fully cleared.
Fans back in England have seen plenty of great football from Fernandez this past 12 months.
But nothing has been heard from the authorities charged with investigating the moment of madness that has followed the player around since he went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Fernandez, 24, was filmed heartily joining in with dreadful songs alongside his Argentina team-mates questioning the heritage of black French players.
The midfielder had just won Copa America for his country, only to let himself down massively when he should have been in a celebratory mood.
With a large contingent of black French players in Chelsea's squad — Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi — the reaction was understandably incendiary.
The Instagram post also carried a transphobic jibe at French superstar Kylian Mbappe and a reported relationship with transgender model Ines Rau.
Fernandez apologised profusely. Fofana and those affected by the bombshell video say they have accepted it and have moved on.
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There certainly does not appear to be any disharmony over it within the Chelsea camp.
For that, those players in the dressing room who were so hurt by the rash actions of a team-mate deserve unreserved respect and admiration.
News of a 'probe' being launched was posted on social media not long after Argentina had beaten Colombia 1-0 in the final yet there is still no conclusion.
Fifa says it is the responsibility of South America's governing body Conmebol and SunSport has contacted them for an update — but is yet to receive a reply.
Fernandez made a donation to an anti-discrimination charity as well as saying sorry to his team-mates, say Chelsea.
And the club also claimed they would use the episode as an opportunity to 're-educate' their player.
At the last time of asking there was no clear detail available of what that actually entails. The club wants to keep it in-house.
And, in a remarkable show of defiance, new head coach Maresca backed his man by making him captain for the opening Premier League game of last season against Manchester City.
Fernandez appears to have put the whole thing behind him and is now a key figure in a team that is back in the Champions League.
But the silence around the investigation into a moment of madness that went worldwide within hours — and damaged the reputation of a fine player and an upstanding football club — is deafening.
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South Wales Guardian
7 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Enzo Fernandez ‘will be even better' next season insists Enzo Maresca
The Argentina midfielder, signed from the Portuguese giants for a then British record £106.8million two years ago, took time to find his feet at Stamford Bridge. But he excelled in the second half of the 2024-25 season, finishing the campaign with eight goals, and has continued to shine at the Club World Cup. The 24-year-old scored in the opening win over Los Angeles FC and created two goals in as many minutes as the Blues beat Esperance Tunis 3-0 in their final group game on Tuesday. Their reward is a last-16 clash with Benfica in Charlotte on Saturday. Maresca told reporters at his pre-match press conference: 'I'm very pleased with Enzo, especially because, first of all, he's a nice boy. He's polite, he's a good boy. 'Then he's worked very well in all aspects inside the pitch, outside the pitch. Our struggle at the beginning was (for him) to understand the way we want to play. 'But he is doing fantastic in terms of numbers, goal assists. This is what we want from our attacking players. 'I've said many times that I prefer to have the attacking players score 10-12 goal each, rather than just a striker with 40 goals. 'So his contribution this season has been top and I am sure next season will be even better.' Despite that, Fernandez could face competition for his place after Maresca suggested he sees Brazilian Andrey Santos more as an attacking player than a defensive one. The highly-rated 21-year-old has rejoined the club this summer after a successful loan spell at Strasbourg and made his debut as a second-half substitute against Esperance. Maresca said: 'His season has been very good but I think you need time to adapt. 'In terms of position, I see Andrey in this moment in more like Enzo's position than Romeo's (Lavia) position. 'The Premier League demands (players) to be physically strong. In this moment, I see Andrey more of an attacking player than defensive in the field.' Maresca added that he hopes 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong will stay with the club despite being linked with Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund. He said: 'My idea or my plan with Josh is quite clear. I think he potentially can be a top defender for this club. I feel the best plan for Josh is to be with us.' Maresca would also like England international Trevoh Chalobah to stay, but offered no guarantees. He said: 'All the players that are here with us, I don't want to lose them but when the transfer window is open, unfortunately, anything can happen – not only for Trevoh, for (all) the 25 players of the squad.' Maresca expects a tight contest against Benfica. He said: 'It's going to be a balanced game, a tough game. In this kind of game the small details are very important.'
South Wales Argus
8 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Enzo Fernandez ‘will be even better' next season insists Enzo Maresca
The Argentina midfielder, signed from the Portuguese giants for a then British record £106.8million two years ago, took time to find his feet at Stamford Bridge. But he excelled in the second half of the 2024-25 season, finishing the campaign with eight goals, and has continued to shine at the Club World Cup. The 24-year-old scored in the opening win over Los Angeles FC and created two goals in as many minutes as the Blues beat Esperance Tunis 3-0 in their final group game on Tuesday. Their reward is a last-16 clash with Benfica in Charlotte on Saturday. Maresca told reporters at his pre-match press conference: 'I'm very pleased with Enzo, especially because, first of all, he's a nice boy. He's polite, he's a good boy. 'Then he's worked very well in all aspects inside the pitch, outside the pitch. Our struggle at the beginning was (for him) to understand the way we want to play. 'But he is doing fantastic in terms of numbers, goal assists. This is what we want from our attacking players. 'I've said many times that I prefer to have the attacking players score 10-12 goal each, rather than just a striker with 40 goals. 'So his contribution this season has been top and I am sure next season will be even better.' Enzo Maresca has stressed the need to be patient with Andrey Santos (Rafal Oleksiewicz/PA) Despite that, Fernandez could face competition for his place after Maresca suggested he sees Brazilian Andrey Santos more as an attacking player than a defensive one. The highly-rated 21-year-old has rejoined the club this summer after a successful loan spell at Strasbourg and made his debut as a second-half substitute against Esperance. Maresca said: 'His season has been very good but I think you need time to adapt. 'In terms of position, I see Andrey in this moment in more like Enzo's position than Romeo's (Lavia) position. 'The Premier League demands (players) to be physically strong. In this moment, I see Andrey more of an attacking player than defensive in the field.' Maresca added that he hopes 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong will stay with the club despite being linked with Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund. He said: 'My idea or my plan with Josh is quite clear. I think he potentially can be a top defender for this club. I feel the best plan for Josh is to be with us.' Trevoh Chalobah's future has been the subject of speculation (John Walton/PA) Maresca would also like England international Trevoh Chalobah to stay, but offered no guarantees. He said: 'All the players that are here with us, I don't want to lose them but when the transfer window is open, unfortunately, anything can happen – not only for Trevoh, for (all) the 25 players of the squad.' Maresca expects a tight contest against Benfica. He said: 'It's going to be a balanced game, a tough game. In this kind of game the small details are very important.'
Glasgow Times
8 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Enzo Fernandez ‘will be even better' next season insists Enzo Maresca
The Argentina midfielder, signed from the Portuguese giants for a then British record £106.8million two years ago, took time to find his feet at Stamford Bridge. But he excelled in the second half of the 2024-25 season, finishing the campaign with eight goals, and has continued to shine at the Club World Cup. The 24-year-old scored in the opening win over Los Angeles FC and created two goals in as many minutes as the Blues beat Esperance Tunis 3-0 in their final group game on Tuesday. Their reward is a last-16 clash with Benfica in Charlotte on Saturday. Maresca told reporters at his pre-match press conference: 'I'm very pleased with Enzo, especially because, first of all, he's a nice boy. He's polite, he's a good boy. 'Then he's worked very well in all aspects inside the pitch, outside the pitch. Our struggle at the beginning was (for him) to understand the way we want to play. 'But he is doing fantastic in terms of numbers, goal assists. This is what we want from our attacking players. 'I've said many times that I prefer to have the attacking players score 10-12 goal each, rather than just a striker with 40 goals. 'So his contribution this season has been top and I am sure next season will be even better.' Enzo Maresca has stressed the need to be patient with Andrey Santos (Rafal Oleksiewicz/PA) Despite that, Fernandez could face competition for his place after Maresca suggested he sees Brazilian Andrey Santos more as an attacking player than a defensive one. The highly-rated 21-year-old has rejoined the club this summer after a successful loan spell at Strasbourg and made his debut as a second-half substitute against Esperance. Maresca said: 'His season has been very good but I think you need time to adapt. 'In terms of position, I see Andrey in this moment in more like Enzo's position than Romeo's (Lavia) position. 'The Premier League demands (players) to be physically strong. In this moment, I see Andrey more of an attacking player than defensive in the field.' Maresca added that he hopes 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong will stay with the club despite being linked with Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund. He said: 'My idea or my plan with Josh is quite clear. I think he potentially can be a top defender for this club. I feel the best plan for Josh is to be with us.' Trevoh Chalobah's future has been the subject of speculation (John Walton/PA) Maresca would also like England international Trevoh Chalobah to stay, but offered no guarantees. He said: 'All the players that are here with us, I don't want to lose them but when the transfer window is open, unfortunately, anything can happen – not only for Trevoh, for (all) the 25 players of the squad.' Maresca expects a tight contest against Benfica. He said: 'It's going to be a balanced game, a tough game. In this kind of game the small details are very important.'
