Chelsea stars Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro had been noticed having fun with some downtime in Madrid on Monday – lower than 24 hours after serving to the membership attain the FA Cup last.
The trio all performed a key function on Sunday because the Blues beat Leeds 1-0 at Wembley, with Fernandez scoring the successful aim within the first half.
They had been joined by Cucurella’s accomplice Claudia Rodriguez – who he shares three youngsters with – and Pedro’s girlfriend Khadije Skandar.
The group had been in Spain to observe some tennis within the type of the Madrid Open after Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane granted his squad a while off following their cup win, which got here simply days after Liam Rosenior was sacked.
Footage from the Spanish capital confirmed Fernandez and Co leaving a high-end, unique restaurant earlier than strolling the streets in nice April climate.
Nevertheless, Fernandez’s presence in Madrid was ironic given he controversially appeared to problem a come-and-get-me plea to Actual Madrid simply final month.
Enzo Fernandez was noticed in Madrid on Monday, a month after his controversial feedback
Fernandez was joined by his Chelsea team-mates Marc Cucurella (center) and Joao Pedro (left), and their companions Claudia Rodriguez (second proper) and Khadije Skandar (second left)
Throughout an look on the Avirales YouTube channel, Fernandez expressed a want to stay within the metropolis in the future, throwing his Chelsea future into doubt.
‘I’d wish to stay in Spain,’ he mentioned. ‘I actually like Madrid; it jogs my memory of Buenos Aires.
‘Gamers stay the place they need. I’d stay in Madrid. I get by in English, however I’d be extra comfy in Spanish.’
He additionally hailed Actual legends Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, and it got here following a number of different interviews the place he questioned his future at Stamford Bridge.
This included Fernandez admitting he doesn’t know if he’ll nonetheless be with Chelsea past this summer time and one other the place he criticised the membership for dropping former supervisor Enzo Maresca.
Fernandez was subsequently banned for 2 video games over these feedback, which Chelsea felt crossed the road – and he was compelled to apologise to Rosenior.
The 25-year-old – who joined Chelsea from Benfica for a then report £106.8million in 2023 – held inside peace talks however his agent Javier Pastore nonetheless hit out on the ban and defended his consumer.
Pastore mentioned: ‘The punishment is totally unfair – banning the participant for 2 matches, which furthermore are additionally completely essential for Chelsea as a result of qualification for the Champions League is at stake and he is without doubt one of the workforce’s most necessary gamers.
‘I believe it’s far too harsh given Chelsea’s present state of affairs, and there’s no actual motive or justification for why he has been banned.’
Pastore additionally insisted the interview was blown out of proportion and added: ‘We don’t perceive the punishment as a result of he doesn’t point out any membership or say he needs to go away Chelsea, removed from it; he solely mentions Madrid, town, as a result of he was requested which European metropolis he’d wish to stay in in the future.’
Talking in regards to the incident on the time, Rosenior had mentioned: ‘It’s a critical assembly about one thing very critical. I am not questioning Enzo’s character, I am not questioning who he’s as an individual.
‘I imagine individuals make errors and you’ll’t overstep the punishment for the error.
‘We have made a sanction, we decided, I decided, and what I would like for Enzo is for him to return on right here and have an excellent profession.
The group had been seen leaving an unique restaurant and strolling down the streets of Madrid
Final yr Fernandez and Cucurella had been joined by Pedro Neto on the Madrid Open event
‘He will not play on Sunday, however hopefully after that, he’ll be a large a part of the group shifting ahead.
‘There are nonetheless a couple of hurdles that have to be overcome that I will not go into, however on the similar time I would like each participant actually, actually targeted now on an enormous run.’
After lacking Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Port Vale and defeat by Man Metropolis, Fernandez – who has typically captained the membership this season within the absence of Reece James, together with towards Leeds – has began their final three video games.
His journey to Madrid does come after he additionally attended final yr’s event with team-mates Pedro Neto and Cucurella.
The Blues return to motion on Monday after they host Nottingham Forest.
