Xabi Alonso Confirms Desire to Keep Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea
The new Chelsea head coach addressed transfer speculation surrounding the Argentine midfielder during his official unveiling.
Newly appointed Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has expressed his clear intention to keep midfielder Enzo Fernandez at Stamford Bridge, dismissing speculation linking the Argentine international with a summer move away from the club.
During his official unveiling on Monday, Alonso was asked directly if he hoped to retain the midfielder. “Yes,” Alonso replied, confirming he wants the player to remain part of his squad.
Fernandez has recently been linked with a departure from Chelsea, with Real Madrid previously mentioned as a potential destination. However, Alonso appeared to shut down those rumors during his introductory press conference.
“We have spoken,” Alonso said regarding his conversations with Fernandez. “But, as you can understand, what we said will remain private.”
Currently, Fernandez is preparing for Argentina’s World Cup semi-final against England. Despite reports indicating he is open to leaving Stamford Bridge, Real Madrid denied interest in the midfielder last week. Additionally, Chelsea’s reported £120 million valuation of the player presents a significant hurdle for any potential suitors.
Squad Planning and Transfer Updates
Alonso’s comments regarding Fernandez were made during his first major press conference since replacing Enzo Maresca, following the Spaniard’s departure from Real Madrid in January.
The new head coach also confirmed that striker Nicolas Jackson remains firmly in his plans. This comes after Bayern Munich opted against making Jackson’s loan move permanent. “Nico Jackson is joining the tour in Asia and we are looking forward to him working with us,” Alonso stated.
In contrast, the future of winger Alejandro Garnacho remains uncertain. Garnacho has not yet returned to training under Alonso. The manager revealed that an agreement has been reached to keep Garnacho away from the first-team squad while he seeks a transfer to a new club, with Italian side Roma among those interested.
Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos completed a transfer to Manchester United shortly before Alonso faced the media. This departure raised questions about whether Chelsea’s failure to qualify for European competition would necessitate a reduction in squad size.
“[It changed] the small details for sure but the main focus about how we want to start the competition in August, it doesn’t change much,” Alonso said. “We are aligned with the sporting directors on what we want to reach. The team is good and where we want to reinforce in terms of positions is clear. There are some weeks to go but we are working in a very aligned way – and this is the right way.”
A ‘Privilege and Honour’ at Stamford Bridge
Speaking from the Drake Suite at Stamford Bridge, Alonso described his appointment as a “privilege and honour.” He outlined his motivations for taking the role: “The excitement is the club, the squad and the opportunity, through this ownership, to be at this great club, create a bond with the supporters, win games and be successful.”
He added: “I want to enjoy it, be part of this group and work together with the sporting directors, the players and the staff here. We need to make important decisions – the right decisions – but I think the foundations have already been built. We need to keep building a mentality to be competitive on the pitch, win games and enjoy doing it.”
Chelsea’s failure to secure European football last season followed a final-day defeat to Sunderland. However, Alonso emphasized that returning to European competition is a primary target.
“For sure, that’s a goal,” Alonso said when asked about securing European football. “But to reach that goal you have to do many things right. I will be part of that process. How we play, how we see ourselves and how we approach each game is my job, and that is why I am looking forward to having the whole squad available. We have only just started and these have been happy early days so far, but for sure we want to be there [in Europe]. Time will tell, but we are ambitious, and at Chelsea you need to share that energy and hunger to succeed.”
Background
Chelsea Football Club
Founded in 1905, Chelsea FC is one of the most successful clubs in English football, playing its home matches at the 40,000-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium in West London. The club has won multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups, and European trophies, including two UEFA Champions League titles in 2012 and 2021.
Enzo Fernandez
Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez joined Chelsea in January 2023 from Portuguese club Benfica for a then-British record transfer fee. Prior to his move to London, Fernandez played a pivotal role in Argentina’s victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he was named the tournament’s Best Young Player.
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso is a highly decorated former professional midfielder who represented top European clubs including Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, winning the UEFA Champions League with both Liverpool and Real Madrid. Internationally, he won the FIFA World Cup and two UEFA European Championships with Spain. After transitioning to coaching, he achieved widespread acclaim for his managerial success before being appointed as Chelsea’s head coach.
