Xabi Alonso Makes Enzo Fernandez His Cornerstone: First Moves at Chelsea

New Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso made his priorities clear from the very first press conference. The Spaniard stated unequivocally that 25-year-old Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez remains central to his project at Stamford Bridge. Recent weeks had seen Fernandez, who is currently preparing for a World Cup semifinal against England, linked with a move to Real Madrid. But the Spanish giants officially abandoned any attempt to sign the player — valued at £120 million. Alonso drove the point home with a simple “yes” when asked directly if he wanted to keep Fernandez. “We talked, but what we said will remain confidential,” the coach hinted, referring to a private conversation with the player. Meanwhile, the squad is undergoing changes. Striker Nicolas Jackson gets a fresh opportunity after Bayern Munich declined to make his loan permanent. Jackson will join Chelsea on their preseason tour of Asia and Australia. Winger Alejandro Garnacho is no longer training with the first team. According to Alonso, both parties have agreed that the player will find a new club, with Roma emerging as the leading candidate. The club has already said goodbye to Andriy Santos, who moved to Manchester United just an hour before Alonso’s press conference. Last season, Chelsea lost to Sunderland on the final matchday, missing out on European qualification. Despite that, Alonso does not plan a fire sale. He has aligned with the sporting directors on a strategy and knows which positions need strengthening. “Of course, the goal is to return to the Champions League, but a lot of things have to be done right to achieve that. I will be part of that process. We are ambitious, and Chelsea needs that energy and hunger for success,” Alonso concluded.