Chelsea have withdrawn Enzo Fernández from the club’s next two fixtures, confirming the Argentine midfielder will miss Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and the Premier League clash with Manchester City on 12 April.
Head coach Liam Rosenior announced the decision on 3 April, describing it as a formal sanction following recent public comments by the 25-year-old regarding his future, Real Madrid, and other matters.
“A line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build,” Rosenior told reporters. “I have no bad words for him, but we had to sanction Enzo. It’s a joint decision with the club hierarchy.” Rosenior added that he spoke directly with Fernández before the announcement and stressed the door remains open for his return.
Fernández, a central midfielder and Argentina international, joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023. The club will face Port Vale on 4 April and league leaders Manchester City on 12 April, both at Stamford Bridge, without him. Rosenior said the move is intended to protect the team’s culture rather than permanently exclude the player.