Chelsea Stars Enjoy Downtime in Madrid
Chelsea players Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella, and Joao Pedro were seen relaxing in Madrid on Monday, just a day after helping their team secure a spot in the FA Cup final. The trio played crucial roles in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Leeds at Wembley, with Fernandez scoring the decisive goal in the first half.
Cucurella was accompanied by his partner Claudia Rodriguez, with whom he shares three children, while Pedro was joined by his girlfriend Khadije Skandar. The group had traveled to Spain to watch the Madrid Open, as Chelsea’s interim manager Calum McFarlane had given the squad some time off following their recent cup win. This came shortly after Liam Rosenior was dismissed from his position.
Photos captured the group leaving an upscale restaurant before strolling through the streets of Madrid on a pleasant April day. However, Fernandez’s presence in the city was ironic, considering his controversial comments about Real Madrid just last month.
Enzo Fernandez’s Comments on Madrid
During an appearance on the Avirales YouTube channel, Fernandez expressed a desire to live in Madrid one day, which cast doubt on his future with Chelsea. He said:
“I’d like to live in Spain. I really like Madrid; it reminds me of Buenos Aires. Players live where they want. I’d live in Madrid. I get by in English, but I’d be more comfortable in Spanish.”
He also praised Real Madrid legends Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. This followed several interviews where Fernandez questioned his future at Stamford Bridge. In one instance, he admitted he didn’t know if he would still be with Chelsea beyond this summer. In another, he criticized the club for losing former manager Enzo Maresca.
Fernandez was subsequently banned for two games over these comments, which Chelsea felt crossed the line. He was forced to apologize to Rosenior. The 25-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Benfica for a then-record £106.8 million in 2023, held internal peace talks, but his agent, Javier Pastore, criticized the ban.
Agent’s Response to the Ban
Pastore stated:
“The punishment is completely unfair – banning the player for two matches, which moreover are also absolutely crucial for Chelsea because qualification for the Champions League is at stake and he is one of the team’s most important players. I think it’s far too harsh given Chelsea’s current situation, and there’s no real reason or justification for why he has been banned.”
He also insisted the interview was blown out of proportion, adding:
“We don’t understand the punishment because he doesn’t mention any club or say he wants to leave Chelsea, far from it; he only mentions Madrid, the city, because he was asked which European city he’d like to live in one day.”
Manager’s Statement on the Incident
Rosenior addressed the situation at the time, stating:
“It’s a serious meeting about something very serious. I’m not questioning Enzo’s character, I’m not questioning who he is as a person. I believe people make mistakes and you can’t overstep the punishment for the mistake. We’ve made a sanction, we made a decision, I made a decision, and what I want for Enzo is for him to come on here and have an outstanding career.”
“He won’t play on Sunday, but hopefully after that, he’ll be a massive part of the group moving forward. There are still a few hurdles that need to be overcome that I won’t go into, but at the same time I want every player really, really focused now on a huge run.”
Recent Matches and Upcoming Fixtures
After missing Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Port Vale and their defeat by Manchester City, Fernandez has started the last three games. His trip to Madrid comes after he also attended last year’s tournament with teammates Pedro Neto and Cucurella.
The Blues return to action on Monday when they host Nottingham Forest.
