There is no bigger transfer story around Real Madrid right now than the one centering on Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez, whose public gestures towards the Royal Whites have resulted in a strict punishment from his current club. Chelsea have barred Enzo from their next two games, starting with the weekend tilt against Port Vale in the FA Cup, sending the Real Madrid transfer rumors into a crescendo.
Real Madrid are very much interested in stealing the Argentina international from Chelsea, but they do not want to spend the 100 million euros necessary to pry the former Benfica man out of Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have Enzo secured under contract for the next handful of years, but, now, all of a sudden, they are manufacturing pressure on themselves to sell.
Not only does the benching of Fernandez for his comments about Real Madrid only increase the odds of him pushing his way out the door, but now his agent, former star footballer Javier Pastore, isn't messing around when it comes to putting the cards of a transfer departure on the table.
Javier Pastore says Enzo Fernandez is close to looking elsewhere
In an interview with The Athletic, Pastore deemed Chelsea's punishment of his client "unfair". He also said that Fernandez deserves a higher salary than what he is currently earning an confirmed that they rejected Chelsea's last contract offer.
But most interestingly of all, Javier Pastore stated that they plan on meeting with Chelsea one more time after the World Cup to hammer out a new and improved contract for Enzo Fernandez. If they still cannot come to an agreement, Pastore threatened that he and his client will then "explore other options".
During an ongoing season with a lot on the line, including the very Champions League qualification that could significantly impact Enzo's transfer fee and chances of a Real Madrid move in 2026, a comment like that in public from an agent as influential Pastore is a very valid threat indeed.
Pastore is basically challenging Chelsea in an open forum now. Fine, you want to make a power play and suspend your own star for two important games to make a statement. Well, then our statement is that if you don't pay my client what he is worth, we will leave and use our leverage against you to make that very transfer to Real Madrid you are punishing my client for talking about. Pastore has dumped gasoline on the fire, and Real Madrid will be keeping their eyes peeled for more now.