Chelsea star welcomes possibility of Real Madrid transfer despite talks with Manchester City | OneFootball

Real Madrid may have just received major encouragement in their pursuit of Enzo Fernandez after the midfielder’s latest actions sparked heavy speculation about his future at Chelsea.

The Argentine international is believed to be one of the midfield names being closely followed by Real Madrid in the wake of presidential elections. 

With the squad entering a transitional phase, the Spanish giants are actively exploring top midfield options, and Fernandez fits that profile perfectly.

The Chelsea midfielder remains highly rated across Europe despite a chaotic campaign at Stamford Bridge, and recent developments have only increased doubts about whether he will remain in London next season.

What’s the story?

According to Ben Jacobs, following Chelsea’s defeat to Sunderland, Fernandez made a gesture towards supporters at full-time that many interpreted as a possible farewell. 

While nothing official has been confirmed, the moment intensified rumours surrounding a summer departure.

More importantly, as reported by the journalist, the midfielder is understood to be open to the possibility of joining Real Madrid and one of the biggest reasons behind his stance is Chelsea’s disastrous league campaign.

The London side finished the 2025/26 season down in tenth place, meaning there will be no European football at Stamford Bridge next year. 

That situation has significantly weakened Chelsea’s ability to convince some of their top players to commit long-term.

In that context, Fernandez views Champions League football as essential at this stage of his career and that naturally places clubs like Real Madrid in a very strong position.

There is competition

At the same time, though, there have already been informal discussions surrounding the player’s future, with Manchester City also monitoring the situation closely.

City’s growing interest is particularly interesting because the club will move into a new era following Pep Guardiola’s departure, with former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca emerging as a leading candidate to take charge.

Enzo Fernandez waved goodbye to Chelsea fans. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Even so, Real Madrid may hold one crucial advantage, which is the player’s own preference.

The midfielder is willing to wait for Madrid if the club decide to seriously accelerate their interest later in the window.

Chelsea will not book a loss

Although Fernandez appears open to leaving Chelsea, completing a transfer remains far from straightforward.

This is because the Argentine still has a contract running until 2032, meaning Chelsea are under absolutely no pressure to sell. 

Just as importantly, the Premier League side invested a British record £106.8 million to sign him and are determined not to suffer a financial loss on the operation, and that creates a major problem for Real Madrid.

The Spanish club certainly admires the player, but they are also aware that any negotiation would likely require an enormous financial package.