Shocking Summer U-Turn by Chelsea Player Following Maresca’s Arrival

Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea’s midfielder, has apologized to Argentina after Chelsea decided he won’t participate in the Paris Olympics this summer.

Initially, Fernandez was expected to join Argentina’s Under-23 squad for the men’s football tournament starting on July 24. However, recent reports say that Chelsea has blocked his participation, along with Ukraine’s Mykhailo Mudryk, who is currently at Euro 2024. The Olympics end just a week before the new Premier League season begins in August.

Chelsea wants Fernandez to rest and recover after a long season. He struggled with a groin injury that required surgery in April, causing him to miss the final six matches of the season. After his recovery, he joined the senior Argentina squad for the Copa America tournament in the United States, playing friendlies against Ecuador and Guatemala and starting in the 1-0 win over Chile.

Fernandez was an unused substitute in Argentina’s opening win over Canada. They will complete the group stage against Peru this weekend.

Chelsea players Malo Gusto and Benoit Badiashile also won’t join the France Olympic squad, unlike their teammate Lesley Ugochukwu. FIFA doesn’t require clubs to release players for the Olympics.

Fernandez explained that former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino had approved his participation, but the new manager, Enzo Maresca, reversed the decision. The 23-year-old publicly apologized to Javier Mascherano, who is coaching Argentina’s Olympic squad.

“I did everything possible to be at the Olympics,” Fernandez told TYC Sports in Argentina. “Pochettino had given me the okay, but after the change in management, the club changed its stance. I apologize to Masche [Mascherano], I wanted to be there, hopefully another time it will happen.