Chelsea selling Enzo Fernandez to Real Madrid for less than £100m would have been terrible business for the club.
Real Madrid have ended their interest in Fernandez with a statement, but before that it was being reported that they were hopeful of doing an £85m deal.
That is how much Tottenham Hotspur paid for Mateus Fernandes, who was recently relegated from the Premier League with West Ham United.
Considering that, the same offer for Fernandez would have been insulting.
Chelsea’s decision not to lower Enzo Fernandez’s £120m price tag is the right call
Chelsea’s stance throughout the Fernandez saga has been that he can only leave for a fee of £120m.
Who is the best £100m midfielder in the Premier League?
According to journalist Simon Phillips, that is a valuation that Real Madrid have no intention of meeting during this transfer window.
However, in line with what has been reported elsewhere, Phillips has shared via Si Phillips Talks Chelsea that the Blues are not going to budge on their asking price.
The Chelsea decision-makers have made the correct call by not softening their stance. There are midfielders going for more than what the Club World Cup holders paid for Fernandez despite not being better than the Argentine.
It is not just about that, though. Fernandez is an outstanding and very unique midfielder.
He scores goals, which not many in his position can do. Last season, the Argentina international found the back of the net 15 times in 54 appearances.
Admittedly, Fernandez did play a lot of games as a No.10. But when the World Cup winner has played as a No.8, he has had little trouble scoring.
All in all, in a market where Elliot Anderson is going for £116m, there is no way Fernandez can be sold for less. He has a contract until 2032, putting Chelsea in such a strong position as well.
Chelsea’s owners have taken a lot of flak since arriving at the club, but they deserve a bit of praise for not allowing themselves to be bullied by Real Madrid and Fernandez’s agent.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
