{"id":1183559,"date":"2026-09-03T03:12:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T03:12:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1183559\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T03:12:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T03:12:35","slug":"enzo-fernandez-takes-swipe-at-chelsea-after-first-day-with-manchester-city-the-irish-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1183559\/","title":{"rendered":"Enzo Fernandez takes swipe at Chelsea after first day with Manchester City \u2013 The Irish News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enzo Fernandez took a swipe at Chelsea as he claimed he had always dreamed of playing for \u201ca club as big as Manchester City\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Argentina midfielder left Stamford Bridge to join City in a British record-equalling \u00a3125million deal late on deadline day.<\/p>\n

Fernandez won the Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League during his time in London but now believes he can go on to greater glories with City.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old told the club\u2019s website: \u201cI\u2019m really happy to be here. I always dreamed of being at a club as big as City.<\/p>\n

\"Enzo<\/a>\"Tiernan<\/a><\/p>\n

The Premier League set a new record for transfer spending as the window closed with a flurry of deals. More than half of the top flight\u2019s clubs broke their transfer records in a summer window featuring four of the most expensive ever signings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m grateful for the opportunity. It\u2019s a very emotional moment for me and my family, to take this step at 25 years old, in a football career that I always dreamed of.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so happy to be here, enjoying these first few hours I\u2019ve had at the club. I can already see just how big it is and, we will enjoy ourselves and win lots of things together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chelsea had set their own deadline of August 14 for clubs make offers for Fernandez but that passed and City only firmed up their interest late in the transfer window.<\/p>\n

It is understood the London club were quoting for \u00a3135m for the player as late as Monday but City were not prepared to do business at that price. After a day of intense negotiations, a settlement was eventually reached and the signing completed close to the 11pm deadline.<\/p>\n

\n

Introducing our new Argentinian Blue \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf7\ud83e\ude75 pic.twitter.com\/nEHQ1oM855<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Manchester City (@ManCity) September 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

City have won 20 trophies in the past 10 years and Fernandez intends to spearhead the challenge for more.<\/p>\n

\u201cManchester City have to win every trophy they compete for,\u201d said Fernandez, who links up again with his former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. \u201cIn every competition we play in, we have to compete and win, because this club\u2019s history demands that.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be honest, from the first day they believed in me and called me to say they wanted me to join the club, I didn\u2019t hesitate for a second.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a club that has won a lot in recent years. It\u2019s a club that is making history in football and, for me, it\u2019s a huge challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"EnzoEnzo Maresca\u2019s squad has been renewed at enormous expense (John Walton\/PA) <\/p>\n

Fernandez\u2019s arrival completes a rapid refresh of the squad following the departure of long-serving manager Pep Guardiola.<\/p>\n

Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Allan Elias and Iliman Ndiaye have also come in while Rodri, John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders, Savio, Omar Marmoush and Nathan Ake are among those to have left.<\/p>\n

The club are understood to be pleased with their summer business having spent more than \u00a3400m but brought in at least \u00a3300m in sales. They feel the squad is significantly stronger than 12 months ago with strength in depth in each position.<\/p>\n

Nico O\u2019Reilly is viewed as a versatile player capable of playing in numerous positions while Antoine Semenyo can play across the front line and cover for Erling Haaland at centre forward if necessary.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, City announced late on Wednesday that 20-year-old winger Claudio Echeverri had joined Portuguese giants Benfica on a season-long loan deal.<\/p>\n