The transfer saga that could see Enzo Fernández leaving Benfica this winter has taken a fresh turn...but it does not mean that the player will get away with his desire.
The footballer and the Blues seemed to be crossing paths as the Premier League outfit had set their eyes on him following his superb run in the FIFA World Cup, but Benfica decided not to sell the footballer for less than €100M. Those terms have not changed for the Portuguese side, but Fernández has reportedly come up with a "solution" that could get him in more problems with the Eagles.
According to Portuguese newspaper Record, the Argentine midfielder is willing to honor his deal with Benfica until the end of the season, but to do that, he is ready to ask for a "loyalty bonus", which would be "the club's way of thanking him" he is ready to stay. The amount of this bonus would be €2M.
Fernández already had some issues with Benfica's execs before the end of 2022, when he decided to make a trip to Buenos Aires to celebrate the New Year with his inner circle. Benfica's hierarchy decided to fine him and to suspend him for one game, and after that sanction, things between him and the club seemed to be back on track, but it is yet to be seen how this latest gesture is taken by Fernández's bosses.
Earlier today, Benfica's coach Roger Schmidt seemed to put the final nail on the coffin for Chelsea's hopes to land the footballer this winter by stating how delighted he was to have Fernández around.
"When I see Enzo playing right now for Benfica, I see a player at the top of his game, who is really happy to play for us and who has nothing else on his mind. I don't expect to lose any of our hard-working starters during the winter transfer window, and that's why I hope Enzo will stay," Schmidt stated.
Fernández's performances for Argentina in the World Cup saw him rise from a substitute to a key member of the would-be champions, scoring a goal against Mexico and handing out an assist in seven games played for La Albiceleste during the competition. Judging by the latest developments, it seems that the Argentine will stay put, but anything can happen in the winter transfer window and this latest demand by the player may be too much for his employers to concede.
