"Whenever he has a day off, he comes to Madrid because I'm there and because he has friends in the city. That's all it is, nothing more." That's Javier Pastore, Enzo Fernández's agent, doing his best to pour cold water on the Real Madrid transfer talk. Whether anyone believes him is a different question.
The rumours have been building for weeks, fuelled partly by comments from Fernández himself that got him suspended by Chelsea. Now Pastore — the former PSG man who manages his compatriot's career — has gone on record to say the situation is being blown out of proportion. The plan, he insists, is simple: finish the season at Stamford Bridge, have a strong World Cup, and then reassess.
A player without a fixed position — and that's actually the appeal
Pastore was candid about what kind of player Fernández is right now. Under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, he's been pushed further forward. With Liam Rosenior, he dropped deeper as a holding midfielder. For Argentina, he operates as an advanced number 8, contributing goals and assists. Two seasons of consistent attacking returns have shaped how coaches use him.
That versatility is exactly what makes him attractive to a club like Real Madrid, who are perennially shuffling their midfield shape. Whether that interest translates into a bid is another matter entirely — and Chelsea's asking price for a player of his profile won't be modest.
There's also the suspension and the reputational noise around him to factor in. Clubs weighing up a marquee signing don't love that kind of baggage, even if the underlying talent is undeniable. His odds of forcing a summer move shorten considerably if he ends the Premier League season quietly rather than impressively.
Pastore on Franco Mastantuono and Argentina at the World Cup
The agent also weighed in on fellow Argentine Franco Mastantuono, the 18-year-old who's endured a difficult start at the Bernabéu. Pastore's read: give him time, and don't expect him to carry matches solo the way Vinícius or Mbappé can. He's a connector, not a destroyer — and that type needs rhythm and teammates to unlock them.
On Argentina's World Cup chances, Pastore was measured but clear. Defending champions, winning their qualifiers, players full of confidence — he rates them as favourites, but acknowledged the field is strong. A lot depends on how players arrive physically after a gruelling club season.
As for Enzo Fernández at Real Madrid this summer? Pastore says nothing is happening. He may well be right. But agents don't usually give long interviews about transfer rumours they genuinely want to go away.
