Alonso refuses to confirm Fernandez will remain at Chelsea amid exit rumours

[p]Seeking a new midfielder after selling Rodri to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]City[/a] boss Enzo Maresca is believed to be keen on a reunion with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-enzo/nZnbEVWP/"]Fernandez[/a] after their time at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a].[/p][p]The pair worked together for 18 months before Maresca departed Stamford Bridge in January.[/p][p]Fernandez infuriated Chelsea last season when he hinted on several occasions that he could be willing to leave the Premier League club amid links with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a].[/p][p][b]He was booed by Chelsea supporters during Saturday's friendly [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/real-sociedad-jNvak2f3/?mid=GGqOCZio"]win over Real Sociedad[/a].[/b][/p][p]Aware of City's interest, Chelsea reportedly set a deadline of August 14th to receive offers for Fernandez, who is valued at around £120 million.[/p][image alt="Enzo Fernandez's recent domestic league seasons" id="f427753e-86d5-4829-bef1-757aa85becb7" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="fb68af23-adc9-4f13-8890-e9459ad10f88" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]With the transfer window closing on September 1st, Alonso was asked if Fernandez had told him he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge.[/p][p][b]"Enzo is a Chelsea player, a top, top player. He's training really well, he started 10 days ago with the team, very integrated,"[/b] Alonso told reporters on Thursday.[/p][p][b]"We are happy with him, and he is getting ready for Monday. He's training really well, and I see him with a good attitude. That's what we want.[/b][/p][p][b]"He's trying his best to prepare for the Premier League kick-off."[/b][/p][p]Argentina international Fernandez, who was sent off in his country's World Cup final defeat against Spain in July, joined Chelsea from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benfica/zBkyuyRI/"]Benfica[/a] for £106.8 million in 2023.[/p][p]Losing one of his most combative players would be a blow to Alonso, who begins his first season as a Premier League manager with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/fulham-69ZiU2Om/?mid=C2Nfvg77"]West London derby at Fulham on Monday[/a].[/p][p]Fulham are managed by Alvaro Arbeloa, who is a close friend of Alonso after their time playing for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a], Real Madrid and Spain.[/p][h2]'Made the right choices'[/h2][p][b]"Of course you can have a relationship, but once you're on the pitch, no friends, no past,"[/b] Alonso said.[/p][p][b]"It's just the 90 minutes that we are playing, fighting for each club."[/b][/p][p]Both Chelsea and Alonso have a point to prove after disappointing seasons last term.[/p][p]Alonso earned his managerial reputation by leading [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayer-leverkusen/4jcj2zMd/"]Bayer Leverkusen[/a] to the domestic double in Germany in 2024.[/p][embed guid="ed0b60b1-e267-486f-bfaa-c98053bd9b9b" url="https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/2090368033193631820" social-type="twitter" /][p]But he was sacked by Real Madrid in January after less than eight months in charge, while Chelsea finished a dismal 10th in the Premier League, leaving them without European action this season.[/p][p][b]"We feel ready. We've prepared the whole pre-season, six weeks with some players from the first day, others coming later,"[/b] Alonso said.[/p][p][b]"The desire, the hunger, the ambition to play the Premier League is already in the building, in each training. Looking forward to it."[/b][/p][p]Asked about Chelsea's close-season signings, including [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rogers-morgan/lp4jm80n/"]Morgan Rogers[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lacroix-maxence/j5bGWFU7/"]Maxence Lacroix[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/welbeck-danny/86PvpO11/"]Danny Welbeck[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/henderson-jordan/UFMlUD6r/"]Jordan Henderson[/a], Alonso said: [b]"I'm very happy. I think we have made many right choices.[/b][/p][p][b]"Very good balance in terms of quality, personality, maturity, different stages of their career, good momentum. We are in a good position, I would say."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/delap-liam/6cfkytBh/"]Liam Delap[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jackson-nicolas/jXg8d5RJ/"]Nicolas Jackson[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mudryk-mykhailo/W03dbPp4/"]Mykhailo Mudryk[/a] are reportedly among a group of players training separately to Alonso's main squad following links with other clubs.[/p][p]"We manage well, with good group dynamics; whenever we need, we have different groups, and it's not been an issue at the moment," Alonso said of Chelsea's bloated squad of over 40 players.[/p][infobox id="02b45e73-9abc-454d-882a-650a1a621f7d" /]