Roger Schmidt said Enzo Fernandez had a “clean slate” after missing Friday’s Primeira Liga victory and is looking forward to having him back in training.
One of the heroes of Argentina’s World Cup victory in Qatar, Fernandez attracted the attention of numerous top teams.
At one point this week, it was believed that Chelsea was close to signing him, but the Blues reportedly refused to match the massive £106 million (€120 million) release clause of the 21-year-old player.
Schmidt said Chelsea’s approach showed “a lack of respect” to his club, suggesting the Premier League side were trying to “drive the player crazy”, and Fernandez was missing from his Benfica side against Portimonense.
The World Cup champion, though, seems destined to extend his career in Portugal as of this coming Saturday because Schmidt was adamant that Benfica were not eager to sell Fernandez.
Speaking after a 1-0 Benfica win, the coach said: “We have a clean slate today.
“In the news conference yesterday, I clearly said that Enzo had not been well in the last week. That is why he was not in the team.
“But tomorrow I will be very happy to see him back in training. He is our player. I count on him to win games and titles. We need him to be champions. Now we can focus on football.”
Fernandez participated in Benfica’s season-opening 3-0 loss to Braga last week, but he was absent for their first home game following the World Cup.
As a result, he did not receive the same honors on Friday as his teammate Nicolas Otamendi from Benfica and Argentina.
The captain! @Notamendi30 🇦🇷🥇 pic.twitter.com/uWpzTSmSuA
— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) January 6, 2023
“[The tribute] was very important for me and my family,” said Otamendi, speaking to Benfica TV.
“Enzo couldn’t be there, but he will also have his tribute, because he is also part of what we [Argentina] achieved as a team.
“It is a tribute in our stadium, with our fans, who I will remember for the rest of my life, because I won a very important title in my career and obviously they are part of that title.”