DECODING THE MADRID OPEN VIDEO: WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ MET JUDE BELLINGHAM COURTSIDE
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez is "focused" on the FA Cup final despite a visit to Madrid. Agent Javier Pastore clears the air.
Enzo Fernandez’s future at Chelsea has been under the microscope ever since he took a quick trip to Madrid and ended up in a viral video greeting Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham at the Madrid Open. As usual, speculation went wild. People wondered if Enzo was angling for a move or just enjoying some downtime.
But Javier Pastore, once a PSG star, now Enzo’s agent, wanted to set the record straight. He shot down the rumours that his client is agitating for a transfer. Enzo was in Madrid with Chelsea teammates Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro, nothing more. The buzz online only got louder because not long ago, Chelsea disciplined Enzo for what the club called “unprofessional behaviour",Pedro; and fans started reading into everything.
Talking with Spanish outlet AS, Pastore cleared the air. “Everyone’s talking, but honestly, there’s nothing up. He’s focused on finishing the season strong at Chelsea,” he said. Pastore admitted Enzo made a few comments about Madrid but insists there’s nothing weird about it; he just likes the city.
Pastore stressed that these Madrid visits are personal, not business. “Whenever he’s got a day off, he heads to Madrid. I’m there; he’s got friends there; that’s all it is. Nothing more.” As for Enzo’s commitment, Pastore said the midfielder wants to finish the season, play a strong World Cup, and then see what comes next. The door isn’t shut, but for now, it’s all about Chelsea and preparing for the FA Cup final.
Enzo’s role at Chelsea has changed a lot under different managers. That’s part of what makes him valuable, Pastore pointed out. The agent explained, “He’s played all over further forward under Enzo Maresca, holding midfield under Liam Rosenior, and as a more attacking ‘number eight’ for Argentina." He racks up assists and goals, so it makes sense coaches see him as more attacking. But he can fit in defensively too.”
Still, even though Pastore says there’s no drama, the summer could get interesting. Reports suggest Chelsea are open to big offers for Fernandez, especially given the club’s record £106.8 million investment in him. With a contract that runs until 2032, he won’t be leaving unless someone pays big.
In the meantime, Enzo keeps showing why Chelsea paid so much in the first place. After his winning goal against Leeds in the FA Cup semi-final, interim boss Calum McFarlane praised his grit. “When tactics went out the window and Leeds were pressing us, he’s just a fighter. He runs, competes, tackles, and lifts the team; sometimes that’s all you need,” McFarlane said. That spirit, not just talent, has kept Enzo at the heart of Chelsea’s plans at least for now.
XAVI OPENLY DECLARES INTEREST IN CHELSEA JOB DURING PERMANENT MANAGER SEARCH
With Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola on the shortlist, explore why Xavi Hernández wants to take over the Chelsea hotseat next.
Xavi has openly said he’d love to manage Chelsea, and now the Blues are hunting for someone to replace Liam Rosenior.
Rosenior got the sack last month after a rough patch just three months into his huge contract that was supposed to last six and a half years. Calum McFarlane is filling in as interim head coach until season’s end, but Chelsea are actively looking for a permanent boss for the 2026/27 campaign.
They're considering some big names. Xabi Alonso’s been mentioned; he’s been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in January. Andoni Iraola, who’s about to leave Bournemouth, is also on the shortlist.
Cesc Fabregas has been linked after his strong run at Como, and Frank Lampard’s in the mix too, fresh off winning the Championship with Coventry and securing promotion.
But Xavi really stands out. He’s already made it clear he’s interested in the Chelsea job. Back in 2019, before his Barcelona return, he said, “I don’t hide it; my goal is to come back to Europe and to Barca. It's my challenge, but I’m enjoying this current project. For me, training a team in Barcelona would be a privilege, the biggest privilege.”
He didn’t just talk about Spain either. “Honestly, who doesn’t love the Premier League? The atmosphere, packed stadiums, everyone says it’s incredible,” Xavi admitted. “If I had to pick, I’d go for a big team: City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal, or Tottenham. Klopp, Pochettino, and Unai Emery are doing amazing work there.”
After returning to Barcelona in 2021, Xavi led them to a La Liga title and the Supercopa de España before Hansi Flick took over in 2024. He’s been out of work since.
Now, Chelsea seems seriously interested in the Spaniard. According to The i, the club wants someone who can embed a strong football identity across their teams, something Enzo Maresca started.
Getting Xavi won’t be easy, though. Morocco’s national team reportedly sees him as a top candidate to replace Walid Regragui, and Manchester United is eyeing him too as they weigh options beyond Michael Carrick.
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso is the bookmakers’ favourite for the Chelsea role, but word is he’d want more control over club decisions if he moves to west London.
COLE PALMER MISSES PENALTY AS CHELSEA SUFFER HISTORIC SIXTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE DEFEAT
Chelsea matched a 1912 record with their 6th straight loss, falling 3-1 to Forest as Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice at the Bridge.
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Chelsea hit rock bottom again, losing 3-1 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. That’s six Premier League defeats in a row now, something the club hadn’t seen since 1912. Just when you thought the season couldn’t get any worse, Forest showed up with a makeshift lineup and absolutely stunned them. Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice, one barely a minute into the match, and then Igor Jesus put away a penalty, and suddenly Forest was six points clear of the drop zone.
Chelsea hadn’t scored in five games, and it looked like that streak would go on forever. Then, in stoppage time, Joao Pedro finally managed an overhead kick to break the drought. That run was made even more ridiculous earlier when Cole Palmer missed a first-half penalty. Matz Sels, Forest’s backup goalkeeper, saved it.
Honestly, the crowd in the Shed End probably barely recognised their own team. Pereira swapped in seven new outfield players, most of them with almost no league experience; he was clearly thinking about the upcoming Europa League semi-final. But it looked like Chelsea was the stranger out there.
Things only got worse for interim head coach Calum McFarlane. He lost Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho to late injuries, so 18-year-old Jesse Derry had to make his Premier League debut. Then, late in the first half, Derry collided heads with Forest’s Zach Abbott and had to be stretchered off after getting oxygen. It was brutal to watch.
The match itself? Chaos. Less than two minutes in, Chelsea messed up their own throw-in and let Forest stroll through midfield. Dilane Bakwa beat Marc Cucurella with little effort and crossed to Awoniyi, who was completely unmarked and headed it in.
Fifteen minutes later, Chelsea conceded again. Bakwa whipped in another cross; Malo Gusto pulled Awoniyi’s shirt, and VAR handed Forest a penalty. Jesus hammered it right down the middle.
The first half was hopeless, and by the end, serious concern set in after that nasty head clash between Derry and Abbott. Abbott, playing just his second league game, left on his own, but Derry needed serious treatment and was stretchered off.
After a nearly ten-minute stoppage, Palmer’s penalty was stopped by Sels. At halftime, Levi Colwill returned from a major injury he hadn’t played since tearing his ACL in August. He tried to restore order, but nothing changed.
Forest’s third goal came just seven minutes into the second half. Gibbs-White crossed, and Awoniyi tapped in from close range, just managing to stay onside. Chelsea’s keeper, Robert Sanchez, took a knock and left with a bandaged head after colliding with Gibbs-White.
Pedro’s late goal barely counted for anything. The few Chelsea fans left in the stadium cheered, but it was more out of irony than joy.
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