In more recent season’s the Italian Serie A has seen some big, and well known, names arrive from the English Premier League and if the current January transfer window rumour mill is to be believed, fans could possibly see the biggest one yet if Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez decides to push for a move come the New Year.
The now 23 year old talent was a huge arrival at Stamford Bridge a little over 12 months ago as the London club paid River Plate an eye watering £107 million for his capture. Plenty of eyes in the wider world of football were raised at that, as although the 32 capped Argentine international was clearly a hugely talented prospect at 21 and had a number of trophies, individual accolades and a winners medal from the World Cup and the Copa America – moving to the physicality of the English game was always going to be a risk.
Particularly at that fee size for such a young lad at the time. It is not unfair to say he has not torn up many trees and that is being polite, but he has been used regularly, notching up 54 league appearances for them already, however he has recently lost his place in Enzo Maresca’s starting XI.
He was a surprise, and unexpected, omission for the line up against Manchester United at the weekend with Maresca explaining that he preferred the more physical nature of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, but the move has raised questions about his potential future at the club, even though sources close to the player have already insisted it is not a big issue and he will simply fight for his place back. However, a source also said he was not prepared to just sit on the bench endlessly for months if the new pecking order is set.
This has obviously led to speculation suggesting that both the Nerazzurri and Spanish La Liga giants are keeping a keen eye on the speculation with a view to the potential for a loan move in either of the next two windows, but there is also another aspect to these claims which Maresca addressed himself.
Not only was their manager sympathetic to the struggles the Argentine has faced since his move to the club, he stated that there was certainly no problem with him and he also referenced upheaval in his personal life given the player has recently split from his long term partner, and childhood sweetheart, and is now living alone and not under the same roof as his two children.
Maresca also called the ‘noise’ surrounding him a by-product of his transfer fee and nothing more, so even if Inter fans would love to see him turn up at the club, many will feel he is simply being taken out of the firing line, and the limelight, to give him a bit of personal space and time.
