Even with selling Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea, Benfica is not happy with the trade and here is why

Even with selling Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea, Benfica is not happy with the trade and here is why Benfica coach is angry with this transfer.

According to The Times, Benfica were angered after Chelsea withdrew their verbal offer at the start of January and the Portuguese club’s president, Rui Costa, left a meeting in London ‘in fury’.

Speaking about Chelsea’s approach for Fernandez, a Benfica source told the newspaper: ‘They’re not going very far behaving like this.’

The report also claims that Benfica tried to persuade Fernandez to reject Chelsea, telling the midfielder that the club was ‘in turmoil’ under the new ownership and warned that he would not be playing in the Champions League next season.

Fernandez also rejected Chelsea’s proposal which would have seen him remain at Benfica on loan for the remainder of the season.

Speaking after the deal was completed, Benfica’s head coach Roger Schmidt made it clear that the club would thrive following Fernandez’s departure.

‘To lose a good player in the winter transfer window is always difficult. But we also showed today that we are capable of playing good football without him, that the players are focused to get a lot of points, to become champions. That’s our goal,’ Schmidt said.

‘Benfica is much bigger than one single player. We need players who are happy to play for Benfica, who are passionate.

‘If some player decides to leave and a club [are willing to] pay the clause, then we cannot do anything. We accept [it] and look forward.’