Emmanuel Petit believes Enzo Fernandez is ‘fed up’ at Chelsea and should leave the club this summer – with his perfect replacement waiting at Real Madrid.
After a slow start to life at Stamford Bridge, Fernandez has grown into one of Chelsea’s best and most important players and the club’s vice-captain.
Last season, the midfielder recorded 15 goals and seven assists and is set to play a starring role for Argentina as they look to defend their crown at the 2026 World Cup.
But it appears that the 25-year-old’s time in west London is coming to an end amid reports Real Madrid, Manchester City and PSG all want to sign him.
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Fernandez himself seems keen on a transfer having voiced his frustration with Chelsea’s dismissal of head coach Enzo Maresca in January, with the Blues also set to miss out on European football next season.
The player was also slapped with a two-match internal ban by Chelsea in April after he talked up the city of Madrid as a place to live, fuelling the links with Real, and Petit thinks it would be best if both parties went their separate ways.
‘Enzo Fernandez should go, you cannot keep a player happy if he wants to leave,’ the former Blues midfielder told BetVictor Live Casino.
‘He did say that he wanted to leave and he was fined by the club. I know he’s probably been one of the best players for Chelsea for the last two years, but you cannot be the captain of the team and have this kind of communication.
‘Obviously he wants to leave the club, we are not stupid. I think he’s been fed up and tired with what’s going on at Chelsea. It’s been a mess this season.
‘Obviously he is targeted by Real Madrid. Real Madrid desperately needs to get some strong and powerful midfield players. I won’t be surprised if he leaves the club and goes to Real Madrid or somewhere else.’
Moving Fernandez on is easier said than done however, with Chelsea valuing the Argentine at £120million as they look to make a slight profit on the £106.8m they paid Benfica for him in January 2023.
Alternatively, a swap deal could suit all parties and Petit believes Xabi Alonso should look into signing a Real Madrid midfielder: ‘Eduardo Camavinga in a swap deal with Enzo Fernandez? Why not?
‘Camavinga is still a very young player. He left Rennes for Madrid when he was eighteen years old and he has played for six or seven years for Real Madrid.
‘He has won some big trophies too. This guy has been an amazing young prospect. I cannot judge his level for the last two seasons with what’s going on at the club. You have so many players that didn’t play well for Real Madrid for different reasons.
‘Camavinga can be very good because we know that at Chelsea most of them are young players. He’s got experience. When you come from Real Madrid to Chelsea having won many trophies and played there for so many years and you play for the national team, you arrive at the club with experience that’s probably missing at Chelsea.
‘Camavinga is a talented player, he would be a great fit.’
With 223 Real Madrid appearances, two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues to his name, Camavinga, who can also play at left-back, brings a wealth of experience despite being just 23-years-old.
And it seems he will be available this summer, with reports suggesting incoming Real manager Jose Mourinho has already listed the France international as surplus to requirements.
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