Enzo Fernandez's future at Chelsea is far from assured.
The 25-year-old is currently away with Argentina at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
While the midfielder's focus will be on helping his country defend their crown following their victory in Qatar four years ago, Chelsea are bracing themselves for a potential offer from Real Madrid.
Enzo Fernandez could follow Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid
Fernandez hasn't been shy in his admiration for Los Blancos. Comments he made earlier this year admitting he would one day love to live in Madrid saw former head coach Liam Rosenior hand him a two-game ban.
Marc Cucurella has already made the switch to Real Madrid after the Spanish giants recently agreed a deal worth £47.5 million with the Blues, and Fernandez could soon follow in his former teammate's footsteps.
According to BBC Sport, if Jose Mourinho gives Real Madrid the green light to sign Fernandez, the Argentine could see an agreement reached as quickly as Cucurella did.
"Sources in Spain say the agreement progressed rapidly with Chelsea, and a similar scenario [as Cucurella] could now develop with Fernandez," a section from their report said.
After paying Benfica a then-record £106.8 million at the beginning of 2023, Chelsea now value the South American at £120 million.
During his three-and-a-half years at Stamford Bridge, Fernandez has scored 31 goals and provided 30 assists in 169 matches in all competitions.
He played a pivotal role in the Blues winning the 2024-25 UEFA Conference League and 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Xabi Alonso has his work cut out
Following Cucurella sudden exit, new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, who takes charge from July 1, will inherit a slightly different team to the one he was expecting to take over.
And if Fernandez also departs, there will be huge pressure on the former Bayer Leverkusen boss to find a suitable replacement.
Chelsea had an awful campaign last season which included a lack of cutting edge in the final third and being the team to receive the most red cards.
Alonso has to address all of this while identifying which players he wants to bring in to build his team around. None of that will be easy, especially with the Blues facing European exile after finishing 10th in the table last season.
Nevertheless, Alonso knew the size of the job when he took it, and if he really is as good as his reputation suggests, there can be no room for excuses; with or without Cucurella and Fernandez.
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