Paul Scholes says £125m transfer has cost Chelsea the Premier League title | Football
Paul Scholes believes Chelsea have ‘ruined’ their chances of challenging for the Premier League title by selling Enzo Fernandez.
Manchester City completed a stunning £125m deal for Fernandez on transfer deadline day, making the Argentine the joint-most expensive player in Premier League history.
Fernandez has been one of the most influential players at Stamford Bridge since his £107m move from Benfica in 2023 but made it clear earlier in the summer that he wanted to leave.
Man City missed Chelsea’s deadline to buy Fernandez for £120m last month but continued negotiations with the Blues before finally making a breakthrough just hours before the transfer deadline.
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Fernandez was keen to secure a dream move to Real Madrid during the World Cup but also approved a switch to Man City, where he will play under ex-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
The 25-year-old was left out of Chelsea’s first two Premier League games of the season and could make his Man City debut in Saturday’s clash against Coventry City.
Scholes, one of the best midfielders of his generation, says he ‘wasn’t a massive fan’ of Fernandez when he first arrived in England but now views him as a ‘brilliant player’ and a huge loss to Chelsea.
Xabi Alonso’s side have been widely tipped as dark horses for the Premier League title but Scholes cannot see Chelsea challenging defending champions Arsenal, who they face this weekend, without Fernandez.
‘I don’t think he was unhappy at Chelsea but he had his head turned by Manchester City,’ Manchester United legend and ex-England midfielder Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
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‘But if Chelsea want to win the Premier League which, look, I don’t think they can anyway, but they can’t let Enzo Fernandez go.
‘They had Malo Gusto in midfield the other day, that’s not going to be good enough. Reece James has started in midfield, that’s not going to be good enough.
‘I wasn’t a massive fan of Enzo when he first came but he’s grown on me and now he’s a brilliant player. He would be very good for Man City but Chelsea can’t let it happen, that is a direct rival.
‘City have already had Chelsea’s pants down with the manger, they obviously unsettled him and were talking to him about coming in the summer.
‘That ruined Chelsea’s season really because they were flying at the time, they were going really well. If Enzo Fernandez goes to Manchester City, that could potentially ruin Chelsea’s season again.’
After moving to the Etihad Stadium in an eye-watering £125m transfer, Fernandez said: ‘Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times.
‘Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are.
‘I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success.
‘If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player.
‘I pride myself on continually improving my game. Anyone who’s worked with me will know how hard I train every single day and how much I put into matches.
‘I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here.’
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Paul Scholes says £125m transfer has cost Chelsea the Premier League title | Football
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