Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has turned into a match-winner, scoring another decisive goal in Argentina’s 3-2 comeback win against Egypt at the World Cup.
Fernandez and Argentina looked to be heading out at the last 16 stage after going 2-0 down. But thanks to Fernandez, Lionel Messi and Cristian Romero, they managed to flip the game on its head and progress to the quarter-finals.
While Fernandez was the hero for his nation on Tuesday, he has not always been a match-winner.
Who is the best £100m midfielder in the Premier League?
Chelsea and Argentina star Enzo Fernandez now scoring goals
When Fernandez first joined Chelsea, the 25-year-old received a lot of criticism for not scoring enough goals. The Blues paid £107m to sign him from Benfica, so critics expected much more.
One of his critics was Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher. After one game in 2023, as Carragher discussed Fernandez, he said: “He wants to get on the ball and make Chelsea tick and create things, but he’s got to score more goals, certainly with him playing in a more advanced position now.”
It is advice that the Argentine seems to have taken on board, long before his goal against Egypt.
Fernandez finished last season as the second highest goalscorer in Chelsea’s squad. In total, he netted 15 times in 54 appearances.
The campaign before, the former Benfica man scored nine goals in 53 outings. Goalscoring is definitely an area where he has shown massive improvement.
Enzo Fernandez’s winner against Egypt shows why Chelsea can’t sell him
There has been speculation about Fernandez’s future throughout this whole World Cup. Real Madrid have claimed that they will not move for Fernandez during this transfer window, but they were the ones who were showing the most interest in him.
Whether they stick to their stance remains to be seen, but one thing is now certain if it was not already. Chelsea should not sell the Argentina international.
Right now, there is not a midfielder in football who is better at crashing the box and scoring goals than Fernandez.
Do Chelsea really want to lose that? Their new manager Xabi Alonso will certainly not want to.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
