Chelsea midfielder addresses Real Madrid transfer talk, hints at Lionel Messi retirement

Enzo Fernandez says he is focused on Chelsea’s Premier League run-in and expects his future to be decided after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 25-year-old, who arrived for a then-British record £107 million fee from Benfica in January 2023, has been linked with Real Madrid and acknowledged that he did not know whether he will be at Stamford Bridge next season following Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 exit against Paris Saint-Germain last week.

“There are still a few months left in the season,” Fernandez told Ole when he was asked whether there had been interest from Real Madrid.

“Honestly, nothing – zero talks. Right now, we’re focused on Chelsea, on the remaining matches, and we’ll see after the World Cup.”

Enzo Fernandez: Lionel Messi could be playing ‘last’ games

Speaking alongside Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister after the pair joined Argentina’s squad for home friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia this month, Fernandez said he had “no idea” if the World Cup would prove “the last time or not” he plays with Argentina icon Lionel Messi.

At 38, Messi has hinted that Argentina’s title defence will feature his last appearance at the finals.

“We always try to enjoy every moment we have with Leo with the national team,” said Fernandez. “We always take it very seriously.”

Argentina were set to face Spain in the Finalissima in Qatar on March 27 before the game was called off because of the conflict in the Middle East, with the newly scheduled games allowing Fernandez a surprise return to his homeland.

“I’m going to enjoy being here with my teammates and play the friendlies,” said Fernandez. “[The Finalissima is] a final and I hope to be able to play in it someday.

“When we played before the [2022] World Cup, there weren’t any friendlies that [were particularly] demanding either, but we try to be responsible [against] whoever the opponents are and do our best.

“Now it’s time to enjoy being here with the national team and with my family. It’s been a long time since I’ve been back.

“I really missed being here, coming back to be with the people, my family, and enjoying this moment to the fullest.

“I see [first club River Plate] doing well, with contract renewals. I always wish them the best.”

Will Enzo Fernandez leave Chelsea?

Fernandez said earlier this month that the end of former head coach Enzo Maresca’s 18-month reign in January had “hurt” Chelsea.

Maresca’s successor, Liam Rosenior, pointed out on Friday that Fernandez is one of the captains at the club, claiming that he had “made it really clear how happy he is” and “how passionate he is for us to be successful” during a chat on Friday.

“I had a great conversation with Enzo at length before training – not just about his comments, but how he is feeling, how as a team we can improve,” Rosenior said.

“He also [made his comments] in translation and in emotion. Things get misconstrued. For me, he is fully committed to this group and to winning here at this football club.”

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior insists Enzo Fernandez is ‘fully committed’ to the club, after the midfielder said he didn’t know if he will be there next season👀💪 pic.twitter.com/pMN205XgvK

— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) March 19, 2026

Fernandez played throughout Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Everton the following day, slipping to a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions.

Premier League managerial rookie Rosenior won six of his first seven matches in charge in all competitions but has lost seven out of 13 since then.

Fernandez’s future may be affected if Chelsea fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with fifth place likely to ensure participation in the competition.

With seven league games remaining, Chelsea – who were fifth after Fernandez’s added-time equaliser earned them a draw at Manchester City in Maresca’s final game – are a point behind Liverpool in that position.

Their next two league games are against teams above them, hosting City and Manchester United, and they visit the Reds on May 9.

Chelsea sealed Champions League qualification on the final day of last season.

Alexis Mac Allister: Finalissima ‘was going to be great’

Mac Allister appeared to suggest he knew little about the friendlies against the two minnows at Buenos Aires’s La Bombonera, where Mauritania arrive on Friday and Zambia are Argentina’s opponents four days later (both 20:15 local time).

“I’m very focused on what’s happening at [Liverpool],” he said. “The important thing [for Argentina] is always to be with the group and focus on ourselves.

“It’s a shame because [the Finalissima] was going to be a great match. It couldn’t happen and now we have to focus on the friendlies.”

Argentina squad vs Mauritania, Zambia

Here’s how Argentina’s squad looks.