Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has made his intentions clear regarding the future of Enzo Fernandez, insisting he wants the Argentine midfielder to remain at Stamford Bridge despite ongoing speculation linking him with a move away.
The new Blues boss, officially unveiled on Monday, addressed the media for the first time since taking charge and confirmed that keeping the World Cup star is part of his plans for the club. The news comes as Fernandez prepares to represent Argentina against England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals.
With Chelsea entering a new chapter under Alonso, supporters will be encouraged by his firm stance as Alonso plans to keep Enzo and build the team around one of its biggest talents.
Alonso Plans to Keep Enzo Despite Transfer Rumors
For weeks, Fernandez has been heavily linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid. However, those reports lost momentum after Madrid denied pursuing a move for the 25-year-old midfielder.
Chelsea have reportedly placed a valuation of around £120 million on the Argentina international, making any potential transfer difficult.
Asked directly whether he wanted Fernandez to remain at Chelsea, Alonso gave a straightforward response.
“Yes,” the Spaniard replied.
He also revealed the pair had already spoken privately.
“We have spoken. But, as you can understand, what we said will remain private.”
Those few words were enough to underline that Alonso plans to keep Enzo as a central figure in Chelsea’s rebuilding project.
Fernandez Focused on World Cup Duty
While his club future dominates headlines, Fernandez remains fully focused on Argentina’s World Cup campaign.
The midfielder is expected to play a key role when Lionel Scaloni’s side face England in one of the tournament’s biggest matches.
His performances throughout the competition have once again demonstrated why Chelsea invested heavily to sign him after his breakthrough performances at the 2022 World Cup.
Although transfer speculation continues, Fernandez has not publicly indicated where he wants to play next season.
With Real Madrid distancing themselves from any move and Chelsea unwilling to negotiate below their valuation, staying in west London currently appears the most realistic outcome.
That aligns perfectly with the fact that Alonso plans to keep Enzo as one of his midfield leaders.
Jackson Set for Chelsea Return
Alonso also confirmed striker Nicolas Jackson will return to Chelsea after Bayern Munich decided against making his loan move permanent.
The Senegal international is expected to travel with the squad for their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia.
“Nico Jackson is joining the tour in Asia and we are looking forward to him working with us,” Alonso said.
Jackson’s return gives Chelsea another attacking option as the new manager evaluates his squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Garnacho Nearing Chelsea Exit
While Jackson is returning, Alejandro Garnacho appears to be heading in the opposite direction.
Alonso confirmed the winger has not returned to first-team training because an agreement has been reached for him to find a new club.
Serie A side Roma are believed to be among the clubs interested in signing the Argentine winger.
“There is an agreement” for Garnacho to remain away from the first-team squad while discussions over his future continue.
The situation highlights Chelsea’s intention to reshape parts of the squad during the transfer window.
Chelsea Adjust Plans Without European Football
Chelsea narrowly missed out on European qualification after suffering defeat to Sunderland on the final day of last season.
The absence of European football has inevitably influenced the club’s transfer strategy.
When asked whether that meant Chelsea needed to reduce the size of the squad, Alonso admitted it had made a slight difference but insisted the overall plan remained unchanged.
“It changed the small details for sure but the main focus about how we want to start the competition in August doesn’t change much,” he explained.
“We are aligned with the sporting directors on what we want to reach.”
The club has already seen Andrey Santos complete a move to Manchester United, while more departures are expected before the transfer window closes.
Alonso Plans to Keep Enzo as He Begins a New Chelsea Chapter
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder described becoming Chelsea manager as both a privilege and an honour.
Standing inside Stamford Bridge for his official unveiling, Alonso expressed excitement about leading one of England’s biggest clubs.
“The excitement is the club, the squad and the opportunity,” he said.
“I want to enjoy it, be part of this group and work together with the sporting directors, the players and the staff.”
Alonso officially started work earlier this month after succeeding Liam Rosenior, whose brief spell in charge ended following Chelsea’s disappointing finish.
The Spaniard has already begun training sessions at Cobham, although several players remain away on international duty.
Building a Winning Mentality
One of Alonso’s main priorities is restoring Chelsea’s competitive identity.
He believes the club already has solid foundations but wants to develop a stronger mentality capable of challenging consistently at the top of English football.
“We need to keep building a mentality to be competitive on the pitch, win games and enjoy doing it,” he said.
Chelsea’s ambition remains qualification for European competition, particularly the UEFA Champions League.
“For sure, that’s a goal,” Alonso admitted.
“But to reach that goal you have to do many things right.”
The manager stressed that performances, consistency and collective improvement will determine whether Chelsea return to Europe’s elite competitions.
Why Fernandez Fits Alonso’s System
Keeping Fernandez could prove crucial to Alonso’s tactical plans.
Throughout his coaching career, Alonso has favoured technically gifted midfielders capable of controlling possession while contributing defensively and creatively.
Fernandez possesses exactly those qualities.
The Argentine is comfortable dictating play from deep, progressing the ball through midfield and contributing in attack.
His ability to control the tempo makes him an ideal fit for the possession-based football Alonso is expected to introduce at Stamford Bridge.
It is therefore unsurprising that Alonso plans to keep Enzo despite persistent rumours surrounding his future.
A Positive First Impression
Alonso handled his first Chelsea press conference with composure, offering clear responses to several difficult questions.
Rather than avoiding discussions about Fernandez, Jackson or Garnacho, he addressed each situation directly while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
His calm approach has already earned praise from many supporters eager for stability after several turbulent seasons.
Although much work remains before Chelsea return to competing for major honours, Alonso’s opening message was clear.
He wants unity, ambition and long-term development.
Most importantly for Chelsea fans, Alonso plans to keep Enzo, believing the World Cup-winning midfielder can become one of the cornerstones of his new project.
With pre-season approaching and transfer activity continuing, Chelsea’s rebuilding process is only just beginning, but Alonso’s first major decision may already have reassured supporters that one of their biggest stars remains central to the club’s future.
