The Enzo Fernandez saga highlights a key difference between Chelsea and Man City

When they last met, Enzo Fernandez had the last word. Chelsea evidently feel the midfielder who occupies the dual roles of vice-captain and rebel has talked too much since, and have suspended the World Cup winner for Sunday’s match against Manchester City. In January, however, it was Fernandez who delivered the 94th-minute equaliser at the Etihad Stadium. Calum McFarlane’s only point as a Premier League manager – perhaps ever, perhaps until Chelsea sack someone else again – came at the expense of Pep Guardiola.

Liam Rosenior will be the ninth Chelsea manager the Catalan has faced with City; and that is only counting Frank Lampard once, though Guardiola has encountered him in both stints in charge. Rosenior against Guardiola could be an FA Cup final rivalry though Fernandez’s recent provocative words, praising the Englishman’s predecessor Enzo Maresca, may have struck a chord at City. The Italian was Guardiola’s assistant although, despite suggestions that seemed to emanate from Maresca himself, it is hard to imagine him the outstanding candidate to replace him whenever he does go.

Enzo Fernandez bagged Chelsea's late equaliser when they last faced Man City - he'll be suspended this weekend (Getty Images)

But Fernandez helped highlight a difference between clubs with superficial similarities; each transformed by an injection of wealth, each having a period of dominance, each facing charges – Chelsea’s settled now – about financial deceit to help fund champion teams. The Argentinian covets a move to Real Madrid. So, seemingly, does Rodri. Guardiola shrugged it off, saying no player could turn down Real, that if anyone is unhappy they can leave City but that he hopes the Ballon d’Or winner stays. Rodri was not suspended by City; instead, he excelled in their 4-0 win over Liverpool last week.

Chelsea’s strategy to retain players involves chaining them to the longest contracts in football, a policy that can backfire if those footballers are either too bad or too good for the deal they are on. If there is a greater level of understanding at City, there is also a manager who commands more respect from his marquee players; the difficulty for City could come when Guardiola leaves and if there is the perception they have their own Rosenior.

But ambitions can also be realised at the Etihad Stadium; not those of a Mediterranean climate or a city that offers echoes of Buenos Aires, admittedly, but Rodri has a quartet of Premier League titles and a Champions League. Fernandez has a Club World Cup to show for his time at Chelsea; but that seems to stand for less than Fifa hoped. He has a Conference League, too, but that was more indictment than achievement. He has finished 12th, sixth and fourth in the Premier League, is sixth now and has never been part of a title race.

In a way, he is a face of the incoherence and idiocy of the Chelsea project. It isn’t a development school when he cost £107m; it isn’t smart business when they paid so far over the odds. Whenever he eventually leaves – and Chelsea should note Real’s preference is to only pay huge fees for Galacticos – it would be at a considerable actual loss; by amortising fees, there would probably be a book profit, but that should be nothing to celebrate.

Fernandez is dreaming of a move to Real Madrid when he does leave Chelsea, he’ll leave at a loss (Getty Images)

At 25, Fernandez may be tiring of the promise of jam tomorrow; the idea that, by constantly signing young players, Chelsea will have an unstoppable team in the future. But he isn’t that young anymore, the future hasn’t arrived and, at points this season, it has looked further away. The 8-2 aggregate thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League was an illustration how far away they remain. In Rosenior’s brief reign, they have lost twice to PSG, three times to Arsenal.

Guardiola’s City are in transition this season, but they have one trophy, could get another and are in title contention. Chelsea are in permanent transition, with some £1.6bn spent under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, clear deficiencies in the team, especially in goal, an incurable addiction to signing wingers and scant sense they have learned any lessons from their hubristic failings. Fernandez, overpriced, sometimes underwhelming, indulged at points is a problem in his own way. He has his World Cup winner’s medal but, over three years at Chelsea, he has rarely looked good enough to command a place in Real’s midfield.

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has spent £1.6bn at seen little progress (PA Archive)

A City pair might be, should an opportunity arise; Real would presumably forget their petty complaints about Rodri’s Ballon d’Or, earned at the expense of Vinicius Jr. Then there is the Spaniard’s sidekick. Bernardo Silva’s summer departure was announced by Pep Lijnders last week; it was no secret that, for years, he had hoped to go. It was always Guardiola’s view that if players want to leave, they can; providing, that is, City’s valuation is met, which it never was in Barcelona’s long pursuit of the Portuguese.

City’s financial muscle meant they were rarely raided by the established order. Yet, with Guardiola’s charisma and the character of his players, a wanderlust rarely became damaging. Silva’s commitment on the pitch was such that he was appointed captain. Rodri improved beyond any realistic expectations at City. Too few have done likewise at Chelsea. They have their never-ending contracts, Rodri – in 2027 – and Silva expiring ones. Chelsea have split up their £222m double act of Moises Caicedo and Fernandez by banning the latter. City got Rodri and Silva for £101m between them. There is little doubt who got better value for money and who, even if many of their midfielders are eyeing an exit, can be happier with their choice of English club.