Who is Enzo Fernandez? The World Cup star chased by Man Utd and Real Madrid

Enzo Fernandez is the latest midfield gem to be pursued by every big club in Europe, with his performances for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup catching the eye of scouts across the continent.

The Benfica star has been one of the standout players in the Champions League this season, helping the Portuguese giants to top spot in Group H, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.

He has since been linked with a big move to one of the elite sides in Europe, with several teams keeping a keen eye on his performances for club club and country.

But, who is he?

What position does Enzo Fernandez play in?

Fernandez is a midfielder who often plays as a deep-lying playmaker - although he also has a propensity to arrive in the box late and score goals.

How good is Enzo Fernandez?

Fernandez is one of Europe's most talented midfielders regardless of age.

He was loaned from boyhood club River Plate to Defenca y Justicia in 2020, and it was there he broke through into senior football. The midfielder put together a string of impressive performances and returned to Marcelo Gallardo's River Plate fresh for the 2021/2022 season. In that season he established himself as one of the biggest talents in the world.

Before joining Benfica in the 2022 summer transfer window, he had been with River Plate since he was six years old - though he was playing football even earlier, at Club La Recova. Fernandez spent 14 years working his way through the youth ranks at the club. He was moved to the first-team squad in 2019, though would have to wait until 2020 for his debut.

It wasn't until his loan to Defenca y Justicia that Fernandez found his feet, and an impressive run of form found him starting week in, week out on his return to River Plate.

Since, joining Benfica in 2022, Fernandez has thrust himself into the spotlight across the globe and has become one of the very best midfielders on the planet. A player capable of playing deep as a No.6 or slightly more advanced in a box-to-box No.8 role, Fernandez is the epitome of a modern central midfielder.

He has excellent match-reading intelligence as well as sublime vision, aggression and an eye for goal from range.

At just 21 years old, he has already featured regularly for the Argentina senior team and is now a key member of their first-choice starting XI.

What clubs are interested in Enzo Fernandez?

Arsenal and Tottenham were mentioned as destinations previously, but Real Madrid, Manchester United and Manchester City are now all interested in signing him.

Liverpool have also reportedly reached a 'pre-agreement' to sign Fernandez as they look to freshen up their midfield.

When does Enzo Fernandez’s contract expire?

Fernandez's current contract with Benfica is set to expire in June 2027 after only joining the club in the summer.

How old is Enzo Fernandez?

Fernandez was born on 17 January 2001. He is 21 years old.

What is Enzo Fernandez's height?

Fernandez is 178cm tall, or about 5 ft 10 in.

What is Enzo Fernandez's weight?

Fernandez weighs 78kg, or about 12 stone.

What is Enzo Fernandez's Instagram?

Fernandez's Instagram has 2.5 million followers as of December 2022.

Who is Enzo Fernandez's girlfriend?

Fernandez is in a relationship with Valentina Cervantes.