Benfica legend recalls Enzo Fernández's exit: It killed us | OneFootball

Alejandro Grimaldo believes that Enzo Fernández’s departure from Benfica in the January 2023 transfer window prevented the Eagles from going further in the Champions League. In the opinion of the current Bayer Leverkusen player, the midfielder’s absence was greatly felt in the prestigious competition given its high level of difficulty.

“Enzo Fernández left in January and that killed the team, it caused us enormous damage. The whole team’s play revolved around him, he was the one who organized everything, and his departure cost us a lot, especially in the Champions League,” Alejandro Grimaldo began, referring to his former teammate’s move to Chelsea.

“In the league we continued to be a great team, but in the Champions League, which is a step above, he made the difference. That’s football, if Chelsea paid 120 million, what could Benfica do?” Alejandro Grimaldo concluded, in an interview with TNT Sports Argentina, after recalling his time with the Eagles.

It should be remembered that Enzo Fernández’s departure from Benfica was surrounded by much controversy. After an initial disagreement with the club’s management, the midfielder stated he would stay at the Estádio da Luz, but later, following a renewed approach from Chelsea, he changed his mind and headed to England.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.