Chelsea have been publicly embarrassed today by Benfica and many media outlets reporting on the Enzo Fernandez deal and to be honest, if the reports are to be believed you can understand why.
It seems Chelsea first agreed to a verbal fee with Benfica, and then went back to that fee and offered less. It’s hard to know exactly what’s been going on with this one, with so many contrasting reports doing the rounds. So a pinch of salt is needed here as well, but it certainly doesn’t look very good on our end.
Treatment of Enzo Fernández. As it is, Chelsea and Benfica have not scheduled a new meeting after talks collapsed ???????????? #CFC
Rui Costa always said: €120M [clause] or in no way. Chelsea verbally discussed that with Benfica the official offer was 85 million euros. No deal.
???? https://t.co/a58uN3CYyC pic.twitter.com/5NuEZDoECZ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 5, 2023
This has provoked angry responses in public from the Benfica manager, saying that Chelsea have disrespected them in the negotiations. He has a point, IF all of this is true.
Benfica coach Schmidt: “We don’t want to sell Enzo. There is a club that wants him, they tempted him but they know that the only way is a clause of 120 million euros” ???????????????? #CFC
“They are disrespectful, they are driving the player crazy. They acted as if they wanted to pay a clause… then they want to negotiate”. pic.twitter.com/3zZ68AD5gQ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 5, 2023
I have no idea why we don’t pay the full clause if we are willing to pay 80 million euros. They are only about 30 million extra euros, which in this business are a few cents. Going so far in the negotiations and not concluding them seems to me foolish and a waste of time. And it’s just tarnishing the Chelsea name.
There are always two sides to a story and I’m sure Chelsea would have a different side. But I doubt we’ll ever hear that side.
Not an ideal look at all, especially breaking ties with Benfica, a club Chelsea have enjoyed good relations with in the past and from which they have signed some of the best players. It’s all pretty worrisome if you ask me.
