Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso declined to say whether Enzo Fernandez is committed to staying at Stamford Bridge amid strong reports linking the Argentina midfielder with Manchester City.
Manchester City is looking for a new midfielder after selling Rodri to Barcelona, and manager Enzo Maresca is reportedly interested in reuniting with Fernandez. The two worked together at Chelsea for 18 months before Maresca left the club in January.
Fernandez created uncertainty over his Chelsea future last season when he suggested on several occasions that he could leave, with Real Madrid reportedly interested. He was also booed by Chelsea fans during Saturday’s friendly victory over Real Sociedad.
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Chelsea is believed to have set an August 14 deadline for offers for Fernandez, who is valued at approximately euro 120 million (USD 163 million). However, with the transfer window closing on September 1, Alonso avoided directly addressing whether the midfielder wants to remain at the club.
“Enzo is a Chelsea player, a top, top player. He’s training really well, he started 10 days ago with the team, very integrated,” Alonso told reporters on Thursday. “We are happy with him and he is getting ready for Monday. He’s training really well and I see him with a good attitude. That’s what we want.
“He’s trying his best to prepare for the Premier League kick off.” Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica for £106.8 million in 2023. He was sent off during Argentina’s World Cup final defeat by Spain in July.
His departure would be a major setback for Alonso, who is preparing for his first Premier League match as a manager. Chelsea is set to begin its campaign with a west London derby against Fulham on Monday.
Fulham is managed by Alvaro Arbeloa, a close friend of Alonso from their playing days with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Spain. Alonso insisted their relationship would not affect the contest.
“Of course you can have a relationship, but once you’re on the pitch, no friends, no past,” Alonso said. “It’s just the 90 minutes that we are playing, fighting for each club.”
Chelsea and Alonso both have much to prove after difficult seasons last term. Alonso built his reputation by guiding Bayer Leverkusen to a domestic double in Germany in 2024, but he was dismissed by Real Madrid in January after less than eight months in charge.
Chelsea, meanwhile, endured a disappointing Premier League campaign, finishing 10th and missing out on European football this season. “We feel ready. We’ve prepared the whole pre-season, six weeks with some players from the first day, others coming later,” Alonso said.
“The desire, the hunger, the ambition to play the Premier League is already in the building, in each training. Looking forward to it.” Discussing Chelsea’s summer recruitment, which includes Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, Alonso expressed satisfaction with the club’s business.
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“I’m very happy. I think we have made many right choices. “Very good balance in terms of quality, personality, maturity, different stages of their career, good momentum. We are in a good position I would say.”
Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Mykhailo Mudryk are reportedly among the players training separately from the main squad as they remain linked with moves elsewhere. Alonso said the club was handling its squad of more than 40 players effectively. “We manage well, with good group dynamics, whenever we need, we have different groups, and it’s not been an issue at the moment,” he said.
Published on Aug 20, 2026
