
<p>Benfica head coach Roger Schmidt had made some interesting comments regarding the Chelsea attempts to land Enzo Fernandez. The Benfica boss claims that the Blues acted like they would pay the player’s full release clause, but then wanted to enter negotiations to drive the price down. Fernandez currently has a $126 million release clause with the Portuguese club.</p>



<p>Schmidt spoke on the issue with <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> during a press conference on Thursday. “We do not want to sell Enzo,” Schmidt <a href="https:\/\/www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4845325/benfica-coach-slams-chelsea-for-disrespectful-pursuit-of-enzo-fernandez" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>. “Not me, not the president, nobody.” </p>



<p>“We know, everyone knows he has a clause in the contract and if the player wants to leave and someone comes and pays the clause of course we cannot work against that. Then maybe we will lose the player.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Benfica head coach Roger Schmidt on Enzo Fernández deal and Chelsea’s bid rejected 🔵 <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/hashtag/CFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFC</a><br><br>“It’s disrespectful for all of us, I can’t accept what they are doing” 🎥⤵️<a href="https:\/\/t.co/3uvYZ93iTC">https:\/\/t.co/3uvYZ93iTC</a></p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1610995121239261185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Benfica coach calls Chelsea ‘disrespectful’</h2>



<p>“There is a club who wants our player,” Schmidt continued. “They know we don’t want to sell the player. They tried to get the player on their side and they know that they can only get this player when they pay the clause.”</p>



<p>“So it is a very clear situation. What the club is doing, who wants to buy Enzo, is disrespectful against all of us, against Benfica and I cannot accept what they are doing.”</p>



<p>“To make the player crazy and then to pretend they can pay the clause and later they want to negotiate, I think this is not what I understand about a good relationship between clubs who maybe want to discuss about the player. So that’s what I can say about the whole topic of Enzo and I will not answer further questions.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Enzo Fernández deal. As things stand, Chelsea &amp; Benfica have not scheduled new meeting after talks collapsed 🚨🇦🇷 <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/hashtag/CFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFC</a><br><br>Rui Costa always said: €120m [clause] or no way. Chelsea verbally discussed that with Benfica then official bid was €85m. No deal.<br><br>🎥 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/a58uN3CYyC">https:\/\/t.co/a58uN3CYyC</a> <a href="https:\/\/t.co/5NuEZDoECZ">pic.twitter.com/5NuEZDoECZ</a></p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1610799647190310915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5>Blues pump-faked paying release clause</h5>



<p>Chelsea apparently made Benfica feel like they would pay the release clause in full. However, the Blues reportedly submitted an opening offer in the $90 million range. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also claimed that discussions over a deal between the two clubs are now over.</p>



<p>It remains to be seen if the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> club will eventually go back to pay the release clause or move on to other targets. Fernandez was one of the breakout stars of the 2022 World Cup. The midfielder collected the title with <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/argentina-national-team-tv-schedule/">Argentina</a> and was awarded as the best young player at the tournament.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Marco Canoniero</em></p>


Benfica head coach Roger Schmidt has called Chelsea "disrespectful" over negotiations for star midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Benfica boss labels Chelsea 'disrespectful' over Fernandez talks


<p><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> are supposedly set to splash the cash on Enzo Fernández. The <em><a href="https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-transfer-latest-enzo-fernandez-release-clause-b1049700.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evening Standard</a></em> claim that the Blues are content to trigger the midfielder’s release clause at Benfica. This fee would be in the region of $125 million.</p>



<p>Fernández was one of the breakout stars of the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">World Cup</a> with <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/argentina-national-team-tv-schedule/">Argentina</a>. The 21-year-old central midfielder featured in every match at the tournament for his country. His performances earned himself the award for <a href="https:\/\/www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/enzo-fernandez-the-rapid-rise-of-argentinas-award-winning-youngster#:~:text=Argentina%27s%20Enzo%20Fernandez%20is%20handed,World%20Cup%E2%84%A2%EF%B8%8F%20in%20Qatar." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best Young Player</a> during the competition in Qatar.</p>



<p>Chelsea will need to bolster their midfield fairly soon. Star duo N’Golo Kante and Jorginho are both out of contract with the club in the summer. Both midfielders, if fit, are typically a mainstay in the middle of the pitch for the Blues. Fernández would certainly take care of one of these roster spots.</p>



<h5>January window not easy to maneuver </h5>



<p>The winter window can be a tough transfer market. Typically teams do not want to allow their top players to depart midseason. Chelsea boss Graham Potter even touched on this recently. “I would say the January window isn’t so straightforward to find solutions,” Potter stated during a <a href="https:\/\/www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/potter-chelsea-january-transfer-james-25839262" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press conference</a> last week. </p>



<p>“The team, as I see it, hasn’t functioned as maximally as I would have liked and I think that it can do. I would say the job of the head coach is to focus on the players that are here and make them better. There’s room for improvement there for sure.”</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chelsea and Newcastle are reportedly ready to trigger Enzo Fernández&apos;s €120 million release clause. 🚨😮<br><br>The 21-year-old Benfica midfielder recently won the Best Young Player Award at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 🔥🥇 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/rIw4KT41i5">pic.twitter.com/rIw4KT41i5</a></p>— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/TMuk_news/status/1608027067937062913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>However, paying a release clause tends to take care of any haggling. Fernández would certainly cost a lot, but the Blues would be filling a major hole looking forward. Taking his age into account, there is even room to grow and get better with Chelsea as well.</p>



<h2>Enzo Fernández not only move for Chelsea this window</h2>



<p>Fernández is also not the only name to be heavily linked with the Blues either. Christopher Nkunku is supposedly set for a move to London as well. The versatile star has already <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/09/30/christopher-nkunku-already-completed-chelsea-medical-reports/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> completed a medical ahead of a move. Chelsea are also in talks with Monaco over defender Benoit Badiashile. The left-sided center back would cost around $42 million.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire</em></p>


Chelsea are reportedly ready to trigger a release clause exceeding $100 million for Benfica and Argentina player Enzo Fernández.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Enzo Fernandez" - Page 2

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Benfica boss labels Chelsea 'disrespectful' over Fernandez talks

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Chelsea ready to sign Enzo Fernández in January window