Enzo Fernandez was booed by some Chelsea supporters during the club’s 3-1 friendly victory over Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, as the midfielder made his first appearance for the Blues since returning from the World Cup.
Fernandez came on in the 64th minute, replacing Reece James, who handed over the captain’s armband to the Argentina international before leaving the field.
According to French outlet RMC, a section of the Chelsea crowd responded to Fernandez’s arrival with whistles, despite it being his first outing for the club since his return from the World Cup. Argentina, known as the Tango, had lost the final 1-0 to Spain.
The reaction was not unanimous. Another group of Chelsea fans applauded Fernandez and welcomed him onto the pitch, while the initial jeers gradually became less pronounced as the match continued.
Sky Sports reported that the atmosphere eventually changed, with supporters chanting: “Oh, Enzo Fernandez”.
Chelsea secured a 3-1 win against Real Sociedad in their final pre-season fixture before the start of the new campaign. However, the mixed reception for Fernandez reflected growing frustration among some supporters over reports that the player would like to leave the club this summer.
Some Chelsea fans have blamed the midfielder for wanting to move on, particularly after the team failed to qualify for the Champions League. The issue has become more sensitive following comments Fernandez made earlier in the summer about his ambition to play for Real Madrid at some point in his career.
Those remarks led to Fernandez being left out of Chelsea’s squad for two matches.
The Argentina midfielder has also attracted fresh interest in recent days, with Manchester City reportedly monitoring his situation. Their interest is linked to the possibility of Rodri leaving the club for Barcelona.
Fernandez’s former Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, is understood to be one of his admirers and is among those who value the midfielder’s abilities. Maresca’s previous working relationship with Fernandez has added to speculation about a possible move, although the player remains a Chelsea footballer.
Saturday’s friendly therefore provided Fernandez with a first opportunity to reconnect with Chelsea supporters after a turbulent period. While some fans made their dissatisfaction clear when he entered the match, the later chants suggested that the mood inside Stamford Bridge had become more supportive by the final stages.
The response came on a day when Chelsea completed their preparations with victory over Real Sociedad, but attention remained focused on Fernandez and the uncertainty surrounding his future.
