Chelsea could have paid 'substantially' less for Enzo Fernandez, Benfica admit

Robin Bairner

• 3 Feb 2023 08:42 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea signed Enzo Fernandez in a €121 million deal on Deadline Day – but Benfica have revealed that the transfer could have been completed for a “substantially” lower fee.

The Blues turned to the World Cup winner as the solution to their midfield problems at the end of December but found Benfica stoic in their insistence that his release clause of €120m would have to be met or surpassed for a deal to take place.

Ultimately, Chelsea got the transfer that they wanted at the last minute for a British record fee, but they were offered a route to signing Enzo for a significantly smaller fee.

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Speaking to the media, Benfica president explained how the deal progressed, with the Blues returning to make a late play for the 22-year-old after temporarily looking to Brighton’s Moises Caicedo as an alternative.

“The proposal reappeared two days before the end of the market and Enzo was demanding. We showed him all the possibilities he had to stay here but he didn't show any openness to stay,” he said.

“We created a solution for him to be able to stay until the end of the season without losing a penny. At lunchtime on the 31st, I put on the table the proposal that Chelsea buy him now and take him in the summer, substantially lowering the sale price.

“Even so, the player was completely negative about staying at Benfica and this is where things changed.”

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Benfica go cold on Enzo Fernandez

And Rui Costa appears to have gone cold on Enzo due to his attitude in these hours.

“It was here I thought that Enzo couldn’t play for Benfica any longer,” he revealed. “I have to manage the club and I, as a president and a supporter, didn’t want Enzo at the club any longer. He couldn’t go back into the locker room.

“What we are trying to build is a team committed to the club and I didn't want Enzo to wear Benfica's jersey anymore. I'm not going to cry over a player who doesn't want to represent Benfica.”

Enzo Fernandez could make his Chelsea debut against Fulham in the Premier League on Friday.