Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Manchester City rejected the opportunity to sign Enzo Fernandez before the midfielder completed a British record £106.8 million transfer to Chelsea in January 2023. The revelation came during an interview with the Guardian, where Alonso detailed City's scouting assessment of the then-Benfica playmaker.
Manchester City's Scouting Decision
According to Alonso, who was working as a coach in Manchester City's youth system at the time, the club's recruitment team evaluated Fernandez extensively but ultimately decided against pursuing a deal. “They watched him many times, but the conclusion was that he was not the right profile for what they needed,” Alonso said. “It was a football decision, not about money.”
Fernandez had impressed during his stint at Benfica, where he recorded 4 goals and 5 assists in 29 appearances across all competitions during the 2022-23 season before his January move. His performances for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, where he won the Young Player of the Tournament award, had heightened interest from top European clubs.
Chelsea's Record-Breaking Move
Chelsea activated Fernandez's release clause in the final days of the winter transfer window, paying Benfica the full £106.8 million fee. The deal made Fernandez the most expensive signing in British football history, surpassing the £100 million Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish in 2021. Alonso noted that City's decision was not influenced by the fee but by tactical fit. “Pep Guardiola's system requires specific movement patterns,” he explained. “Enzo is a wonderful player, but City felt he was too similar to what they already had in midfield.”
Since joining Chelsea, Fernandez has made 52 appearances across all competitions, scoring 5 goals and providing 6 assists. His arrival was part of a £600 million spending spree by Chelsea's new ownership under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Impact on Both Clubs
Manchester City went on to win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble in the 2022-23 season without Fernandez. Chelsea, meanwhile, finished 12th in the Premier League that same season, their lowest position in nearly three decades. Alonso, now head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, suggested that the transfer market often involves such missed opportunities. “Clubs make decisions based on data and fit. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong. That is football,” he said.
