The future of 2022 World Cup-winning midfielder Enzo Fernández at Chelsea has come under scrutiny following remarks in which he admitted he would relish the prospect of living in Madrid, citing similarities between the Spanish capital and Buenos Aires.

The comments were widely interpreted as a subtle flirtation with Real Madrid, despite the Argentine under contract at Stamford Bridge until June 30, 2032. 

However, his agent has since moved to clarify the situation, insisting the midfielder's words were taken out of context.

Chelsea responded by handing the Argentina international a two-match ban. 

The sanction ruled him out of the FA Cup tie against Port Vale and will also see him miss the upcoming Premier League clash with Manchester City. 

Amid growing tensions between Fernandez and Chelsea, former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba criticised the midfielder's remarks, suggesting they were ill-advised and potentially damaging to the club.

“When Maresca was sacked, how many of these players came out in support of not sacking this manager? Everybody kept quiet,” Ikpeba said on SuperSport's Monday Night Football, as monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com. 

The former Monaco winger went on to caution Fernandez against making public statements that could unsettle the dressing room, insisting no individual player is bigger than Chelsea. 

"Enzo Fernández could have been smart by keeping his mouth shut. The statement is not good for the club, but it’s good for other players in the sense that it shows they can do without him.

"The manager has shown that they can do without Enzo, and if he wants to go to Real Madrid in future, he can go. It’s for him to keep quiet and continue his career until the end of the season.

"He has a long contract, so at the end of the day, he doesn’t call the shots. Chelsea are the owners of him."

Signed from Benfica in January 2023, Fernandez has 28 goals and 29 assists in 161 appearances for Chelsea.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel