Javier Pastore, a former Argentina international and now the agent for Enzo Fernandez, has stated that he will endeavor to secure a transfer for his client if Chelsea does not offer the contract he desires. This declaration comes after Chelsea sanctioned Fernandez for comments he made earlier in the week.
Despite being under contract until 2032, Fernandez has, on four separate occasions over the last three weeks, expressed doubts about his long-term commitment to Chelsea. With Real Madrid reportedly in search of a midfielder, Fernandez twice mentioned his interest in living in the Spanish capital. Pastore appeared surprised by the strong reaction to his comments, telling The Athletic that the two-match ban was ‘unfair.’
“Enzo didn’t understand the situation. When the coach informed him, he accepted it, being a highly professional individual who is always dedicated wherever he is and respects decisions. However, we don’t comprehend the punishment because he didn’t name any club or express a desire to leave Chelsea; quite the opposite. He only mentioned Madrid, the city, because he was asked which European city he would like to reside in someday. He chose Madrid due to the language similarities with Buenos Aires and because it’s a natural choice for an Argentine, also considering the culture and weather. At no point did he state he wished to depart Chelsea or London.”
“Let me reiterate: he did not say he wants to leave or that he prefers Madrid over London. He is not disrespecting anyone.”
“The punishment is entirely unjust – suspending the player for two matches, which are critically important for Chelsea’s Champions League qualification hopes, especially since he is one of the team’s key players.”
‘We’ll Explore Other Options If No Agreement Is Reached’
Pastore then disclosed that recent contract negotiations between Fernandez and Chelsea had stalled. Despite the player’s current long-term contract,
“Indeed, there have been discussions about renewing his contract. We began these conversations around December or January, but we couldn’t finalize an agreement. As Enzo’s contract still has six years remaining, we decided against renewing it because the terms were not favorable for us or for the player. Given Enzo’s current capabilities, he merits significantly more than his present earnings. We haven’t reached an agreement, and this might have displeased the club, considering his immense importance, but these matters require careful management.”
The two parties had reportedly agreed to postpone further talks until after the World Cup, but Pastore now seems to have opened the door to a potential transfer.
“We didn’t want to delve into discussions about figures, contracts, and negotiations when the timing was not opportune.”
“Our plan after the World Cup is to reconvene with Chelsea, and if an agreement isn’t reached, we will look into other possibilities.”
‘There Are So Many Unseen Factors’
Rather than speaking to The Athletic’s Chelsea correspondent, Pastore opted to share these comments with their Real Madrid reporter, Mario Cortegana. When asked about Fernandez’s happiness at Stamford Bridge, Pastore implied some dissatisfaction.
“He is the team’s linchpin and leader; it is only natural that, from a sporting perspective, he is content at Chelsea. He secured significant trophies last year and earned the respect of the entire Premier League and its fans. When a player performs at such a high level on the pitch, he is, of course, happy in his current environment.”
“However, other elements influence decisions, such as salary, recognition, or how situations are handled. There are numerous factors that we are not currently observing – or at least I, as an agent, am not seeing – which suggest that the club might not be managing affairs with him in the most optimal way.”
Even if Fernandez maintains plausible deniability regarding his statements, Pastore and his client appear to be the only ones who weren’t surprised by Fernandez’s repeated praise for Madrid. If there was any lingering doubt about Fernandez’s desire to leave Chelsea, Pastore has now unequivocally confirmed his intention to explore alternative options.
