Chelsea have set a Friday deadline for clubs interested in Enzo Fernandez to submit offers of at least £120m for the midfielder.

The Argentina international has faced uncertainty over his future at Stamford Bridge since March, when he raised the possibility of leaving for Real Madrid.

Fernandez’s agent, Javier Pastore, subsequently claimed his client was underpaid and wanted to leave after a difficult season for Chelsea.

The club finished 10th in the Premier League and ended the campaign without a trophy after losing the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

Real Madrid have since indicated they have no intention of signing Fernandez, leaving Manchester City as the only known potential suitor.

City are yet to indicate whether they would be prepared to meet Chelsea’s £120m valuation, with the club also targeting Lille midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi.

As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, Chelsea have set 17:00 BST on Friday as the deadline for offers and are expected to stand firm on their asking price, despite having paid £107m to sign Fernandez from Benfica in 2023.

The deadline is designed to bring an end to the uncertainty surrounding the 25-year-old before the new season begins. Chelsea believe they have given Fernandez and interested clubs around 60 days to complete a deal at what they consider a fair price.

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has spoken to Fernandez about his future but has declined to reveal details of their conversation.

The club have made it clear they are willing to fully reintegrate Fernandez into the squad and continue to regard him as a key player if no suitable offer arrives.

Fernandez scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in 54 appearances last season. He then helped Argentina reach the World Cup final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain after Fernandez was sent off.

The midfielder returned to Chelsea training this week for the first time under Alonso, with his future now set to be decided by Friday’s deadline.

Michael Carrick has backed Marcus Rashford to play an important role as the new Premier League season approaches, describing the forward as a player who brings something different to the team.

Carrick said Rashford has returned in good condition and remains part of his plans ahead of the new campaign.

In a post by Fabrizio Romano on X on Thursday, Carrick was quoted as saying,“Rashford is our player and he’s come back great.

“I’ve known him a long time and he gives us something a little bit different.” Carrick said.

The comments underline Carrick’s confidence in Rashford as the club prepares for the start of the Premier League season.

Carrick also expressed optimism about the campaign ahead, saying the team is looking forward to getting the new season underway.

Rashford spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Barcelona after leaving Manchester United temporarily in search of regular first-team football.

The England forward made an impact during his time in Spain, gaining valuable experience in Barcelona’s attacking system and competing at the highest level.

Source: punchng.com

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Lionel Messi has broken his silence following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, saying he is unsure whether he will continue playing football for much longer without him.

The Argentina captain shared an emotional tribute to his late father on Wednesday via his Instagram page, alongside a photograph of them together.

“Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone. It hasn’t sunk in—or rather, I don’t want it to sink in. It’s so hard to imagine that I won’t see you anymore, that we won’t talk anymore. I know you were suffering and that it’s for the best, but you left too soon. We still had so much left to enjoy together,” Messi wrote.

The Inter Miami forward recalled how much his father wanted him to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, revealing that Jorge’s condition deteriorated shortly before the tournament began.

“You wanted me to play in the last World Cup so much, and a few days before it started was when you took a turn for the worse. It was the first time you weren’t going to be at a tournament, but Mom kept telling me you’d get better and that you’d be fine enough to travel. I kept telling you we were going to make it to the final so you could make the trip,” he wrote.

Messi said he was reminded of his father’s deteriorating condition whenever he expected a message from him after Argentina’s matches.

“Every time a match ended, I waited for and missed your message. That was when I realized how truly bad the situation was. Even so, I couldn’t stop thinking about going as far as possible, just to give you time so you could watch a match,” he said.

He recalled Argentina’s run to the final and said he had hoped to win the trophy so he could show it to his father.

“We made it to the final and you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it so I could bring it to you and show you a new trophy. I couldn’t do it—my legs just couldn’t give any more. This time I tried to push past my body, but I couldn’t. I was never able to feel right physically,” Messi wrote.

The footballer also revealed that his father initially believed Argentina had lost the final on penalties.

“When I arrived home, you thought we had lost the final on penalties. We couldn’t talk about anything that had happened. You didn’t get to enjoy any of it. We didn’t end up as champions, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play it,” he said.

Messi said the loss of his father had left him uncertain about his future in football.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, I don’t know how to move forward. Football was all I did, and now I have serious doubts about whether I’ll keep playing for much longer.

“You were by my side from the very beginning, and there was so little left until the end. Why couldn’t you hang on just a little longer so we could finish together?” he wrote.

The 38-year-old said his father was not only his parent but also his friend and agent, adding that he would carry his influence into the way he raises his own children.

“You were a dad, a friend, and an agent. You were always the person you needed to be at every moment, and you were never wrong about anything. Beyond the occasional disagreements or fights, you were always right. In the end, things always turned out just as you said they would,” Messi wrote.

“I’m going to miss you so much, but you will always be present—especially in how I raise my children, because I teach and raise them just like you two did with me.”

Messi concluded the tribute by thanking his father for his support throughout his career.

“Rest in peace and watch over us from above, just as you did here. Thank you for everything.

“I love you, Dad.”

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Jorge Messi, the footballer’s father and long-time representative, died at the age of 68 following a prolonged illness.

Jorge played a major role in his son’s development, including helping him secure medical treatment for growth hormone deficiency before facilitating his move from Argentina to Barcelona at the age of 13.

Messi had previously spoken about his father’s declining health after scoring in Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria. The forward became emotional after scoring and later explained that his tears were “completely unrelated to sport” and that he had gone through “some difficult, complicated days.”

He subsequently said the situation was “more than anything, because of the family.”

Jorge’s death came after he had been under medical supervision for an illness, with the Messi family previously saying he was recovering and progressing favourably within his condition.

The elder Messi remained a key figure in his son’s career, managing his affairs and supporting him throughout his rise from a young player at Newell’s Old Boys to one of football’s most decorated players.

Source: punchng.com

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