‘Enzo Fernandez makes me curious’ - Fabrizio Romano reveals Chelsea transfer twist

21 Aug 2026 08:17 BST | 4 min read

Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

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Fabrizio Romano has reported the latest on Enzo Fernandez’s potential move to Manchester City – including one aspect of the deal that is particularly intriguing him.

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Enzo’s future has been the subject of speculation for months, with the Argentine publicly flirting with Real Madrid to such an extent that Chelsea handed him a two-game internal suspension.

While the possibility of a switch to the Bernabeu appears to be over for the summer, City have emerged as serious suitors after selling Rodri to Barcelona and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah.

Current ETV

Enzo Fernández

M, DM (C)

Chelsea

Enzo Fernández

M, DM (C)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€83.3M - €101.8M

Chelsea put a deadline of 14 August for the Manchester club to make an official bid for the player having priced him at £120 million, but that date came and went without any serious action.

However, Enzo Maresca’s side continue to monitor Enzo, with Romano revealing that they remain in persistent contact with the player’s agent.

And the transfer insider believes that deals are inevitable – though not necessarily one for the Argentine, though it is a case that has left him ‘curious’.

Romano on Enzo Fernandez to Man City

“We expect more movements also for Manchester City. Manchester City can't be done on the market like this. They are selling many players. They need new players,” Romano told his YouTube channel.

“We will see if this extra money was going in also for their midfield because there is Ayyoub Bouaddi, and on Bouaddi, he's expected to be a Manchester City player.

“But then the Enzo Fernandez story still makes me curious, because there is still no official club-to-club contact. Manchester City and Chelsea, since the deadline last Friday, when Chelsea almost one week ago now considered the £120m verbal exit clause, so no club-to-club contact.

“But Man City are still talking with the agent of the player, Javier Pastore, and that's probably a message like: ‘We are still thinking about Enzo Fernandez.’

“Then, obviously, the agreement has to be reached with Chelsea. And at the moment, there is no club-to-club agreement yet.

“But City are getting more money: Omar Marmoush, Savinho, Reijnders, Rodri, apart from all the other players who left Manchester City this summer. So let's see what's going to happen also with Enzo.

“Remember that everything is in Chelsea's hands now because the verbal exit clause is no longer there.”

What’s going to happen with Enzo?

Chelsea have been adamant that they are happy with Enzo Fernandez and appear happy to continue with the Argentina midfielder, despite his attitude.

Manager Xabi Alonso was inevitably questioned on the situation when in front of the media on Thursday.

“Enzo is a Chelsea player. We are happy with him and he's getting ready for Monday,” he said.

“I see him with a really good attitude and that's what we want.”

The player, meanwhile, was booed by a section of Chelsea’s support when he came off the bench in a 3-1 friendly win over Real Sociedad, suggesting that even if the 25-year-old has won the Blues’ management over, he still has a long way to go with the fans.