Chelsea supporters were divided as Enzo Fernandez returned to Stamford Bridge on Saturday after Friday’s 5pm deadline for clubs to make a £120million offer for the Argentine international passed without a bid.
There were perhaps expected boos when his name was read out before kick-off, with the World Cup runner-up starting on the bench.
But the atmosphere turned bizarre when he was introduced after an hour, with sections of the crowd booing him while others proudly sang his name. That continued when he had the ball in midfield, too, with disgruntled boos followed by encouraging chants.
Fernandez, who replaced Reece James and wore the captain’s armband for the final 30 minutes, has been stuck in a complicated situation at Chelsea since he alerted the world in March that he dreams of playing for Real Madrid. Then-manager Liam Rosenior took umbrage and dropped him for two games in response.
Enzo Fernandes was both booed and serenaded by Chelsea fans on his Stamford Bridge return
The feeling this summer has been that his future lies away from Stamford Bridge, but his options are limited by few clubs having the financial capacity to meet Chelsea’s valuation.
Manchester City were the front-runners, but Chelsea set suitors an unofficial deadline of 5pm Friday to make a sufficient offer as they want their squad fixed before their season opener against Fulham on August 24.
Although that deadline passed without an offer, it remains to be seen if a £120m bid between now and September 1 would test their resolve. What is for sure, though, is that Chelsea supporters do not know how to feel about it.
Fernandez was unaffected by his contradictory reception, looking comfortable in midfield as he earned his first minutes since returning from the World Cup.
The Matthew Harding stand made their support of Fernandez clear in the 90th minute, chanting his name and applauding when he took a free-kick near the corner which looped over the bar.
