Unveiling the World Cup where he was largely involved in the Argentine coronation, Enzo Fernandez had nevertheless started it in the shadows, as a substitute. However, this rise is still the same as what he has known in recent months in a club: dazzling at the risk of losing its support. After his desire for Chelsea, the former Benfica darling sees his ties with the people of Lisbon renewed.
Enzo Fernandez. It’s a name that’s hard to miss for a few weeks. The 21-year-old Argentine midfielder is already a world champion and has shown himself to the world as what he is One of the hopes on which it will be necessary to count in the coming years. However, he remained relatively unknown to the general public despite an impressive start to the season in Portugal with SL Benfica, where he arrived last July. A wizard with the ball at foot, a physical warrior or a tactician, there is no shortage of clichés in Portugal to set one off to a great start to the season for the Eagles. Sport Lisbon Benfica, leaders in the league with six points ahead of Braga and lead their group in the Champions League before Paris Saint-Germain, next February in the expected round of sixteen against Brugge. Deadline that the club still wants to be able to count on an Argentinean nugget, despite the very pressing interests and inappropriate methods of some of the largest European clubs.
Buenos Aires or Lisbon, the same niche for Enzo
Talking about Enzo Fernandez is above all talking about River Plate, the club that saw him and made him grow. After years in training and on loan at Defensa y Justicia, the Argentine midfielder exploded under the orders of Marcelo Gallardo. His passing qualities and intelligence in the game were talked about all over the South American continent and soon across the Atlantic. Despite interest from several top European clubs such as AC Milan, Benfica or Paris Saint-Germain since June, Enzo Fernandez is focused on only one goal: to win the Copa Libertadores for his one love, River Plate. This story, which could have been rose water, soon turns at the end of June 2022. In the Round of 16, Vélez Sársfield defies all expectations and eliminates the river giant with a simple penalty goal in the double showdown. At the same time, Benfica, who finalized the player’s transfer and pushed for a transfer in July instead of January, got rid of a thorn in the side. After a week of elimination in the Libertadores, the midfielder was formalized by the Eagles for €10m with €8 as a bonus.
In Lisbon, Enzo Fernandez once again witnesses the rise of lightning. On the evening of July 15, just 24 hours after landing in Lisbon, the 21-year-old had already started in the friendly match against OGC Nice in the Algarve, in southern Portugal. Fitting in alongside Florentino Luis behind the trio of attacking midfielders, he quickly convinced the fans of the Portuguese capital after successful preparations and, above all, an exceptional month of August. During the third qualifying round of the Champions League qualifiers against Midtjylland, he scored a goal with a fine shot from outside the penalty area. In the following days, he scored two more goals against Arouca in the league and then in the return match against Midtjylland. In short, three pawns in his first three official matches under the Eagles’ red jacket. His game is primarily based on his vision of the game and his passing quality which allows him to create gaps or differentiate himself with crucial crosses more often than not (5 assists since August). If we add his defensive involvement and energy, Enzo Fernández quickly became a staple in Roger Schmidt’s machine. As the No. 8 connecting goalkeeper Florentino Luis with the four attacking players, he is a crowd favourite benfiquistas. “With what I was told and what I saw about the player, I thought he wouldn’t be here for over a year.admits Danny Barbosa, community animator for Francophone SLB account on Twitter. Once there, he became one of Roger Schmidt’s best players by adapting very quickly to his ideas. » Another indicator of this sudden popularity is the number of jerseys sold by a player: “Between August and September we basically streamed the jerseys Enzo, Neris. And “Rava” » says Thiago, salesman of a football shirt shop in Lisbon.
The English robbery of King Costa’s jewel
Enzo Fernandez is a special player. Well understood, Benfica president Rui Costa will only part ways with him this winter if his €120m release clause is lifted. In this near-perfect portrait of a player who managed it all for two years, an ink blot nonetheless emerges that could mar the rest of his career. While he has been a role model on the pitch since joining Benfica, the other side remains more refined. Although it was understood that he would not leave the club this winter – except in the aforementioned case – so as not to disturb the group, the player seems to have changed his tune after the exposure received by the Coupe du world. So much so that in recent days, he started a strong tour with Benfica to join Chelsea, after the London club promised him – behind the back of the Portuguese club – to raise his condition. Thus, the player spent New Year’s Day in Argentina, despite the ban imposed by the SLB federation, and then missed two days later in club training. In a press conference, the club coach Roger Schmidt clearly returned to these events : “There is a club (chelsea) Who wants Enzo? They know we’re not sellers, so having the player on their side made him dream by telling him they’d pay his condition. Today they want to negotiate. This is unacceptable disrespect. » exceed responsibility Blues In this case, these events reflect the expression used by the player upon his arrival in Lisbon last July, when he mentioned Benfica only as “Spring Club” for him. It also gives an even more special flavor to the return of an under-form player during Benfica’s brutal defeat in Braga (3-0) on December 30th. “We felt it was much worse than the rest of the seasondefines Dani Barbosa. He wasn’t involved, missing things he wouldn’t normally do. »
“Keeping him away from Portimonense, in a trap match, was a risk. By taking him, we also sent a message: no one is above the club.” Danny Barbosa
This season, which had everything to be beautiful, is taking an even more bitter turn, especially for fans. reddish. “We can try to understand the player. Playing in the Premier League at the weekend is more exciting than going to Vila do Conde (a city in northern Portugal where Rio Ave particularly plays), jokes Dani Barbosa. But in Benfica and in Portugal in general, the emotional side is very important. We need to show the weight of our institutions and the fact that no player is above the club. » On the courtside, Roger Schmidt announced that his player’s attempted powerhouse run would follow ” Archaeology ” Remembering the fact that he was counting on him and that he wanted to keep him for the rest of the season. During the match against Portimonense last Friday, the 21-year-old was left in the stands. From there, he watched the entire stadium applaud compatriot Nicolas Otamendi’s world title. “His case was well managed by the clubsays Dani Barbosa. Getting him out of Portimonense, in a trap match, was a risk. By taking it, we’ve also sent a message: Nobody is above the club. » Regarding the applause for Otamendi, Dani Barbosa thinks he was “Too bad for Enzo, because it should have been a shared moment between two people. I think he might have regretted not having shared the moment, because the Benfiquistas show their love so hard” . and then? SLB supporters remain divided on whether the player should stay. Danny Barbosa “It will not be necessary to whistle at him in all matches, but the player’s apology and shouting from the field towards him will not be too much.” . Fleetwood Mac sang the blues with the following words: “And when the lights are low, and it’s time to go, that’s when I need your love so badly.” » This could be the next move between Enzo Fernandez and his supportersbenfiquistas. Reconciliation at a time when divorce seemed inevitable.
By Amaury Gonçalves, in Lisbon
All data were collected by AG, unless indicated.
