Benfica President Rui Costa Goes on Rant After Enzo Fernandez’s Move to Chelsea

• Chelsea sealed a blockbuster move for Enzo Fernandez for British a British record on deadline day
• The World Cup winning midfielder pushed to leave the club at the final moments
• Benfica president Rui Costa and head coach Roger Schmidt are unhappy with the player

Chelsea's spending spree under Todd Boehly in the winter window was capped with the biggest one, the £106.8m British transfer record fee for midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.

The Argentine midfielder caught the eye of admirers after his exploits in helping La Albiceleste win the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar where he was voted the young best player.

Benfica president and former footballer Rui Costa was a difficult negotiator in the process insisting on release clause or nothing until the final moments of the window before agreeing, as revealed by Football365.

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Rui Costa slams Enzo Fernandez

The former AC Milan player is certainly not a happy man despite the club pocketing a whopping sum from the sale of the player and he did not hide it.

Speaking to a press conference to Benfica fans as quoted by Metro UK after the Argentine completed his switch, he revealed the efforts made by the club to keep the player until at least the summer but was futile.

‘Enzo Fernandez did not want to stay at Benfica. He didn’t give us any chance. I did my best, I’m sad, but I’m not going to cry for a player who didn’t want to stay. When Chelsea arrived, it was really impossible to change his mind,' he said.

He added that the player's insistence when he was aware Chelsea were willing to pay the fee got him angry and he decided such a player cannot play for the club again.

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‘From the moment Enzo realised [Chelsea would pay] the value of the clause it was unrelenting – and this is when everything changed. At that point I said, “He can’t play for Benfica anymore, no way!” I don’t cry for players who don’t want to wear our shirt,' he added.

Head coach Roger Schmidt also added fuel to the fire, further proving the club are bitter at the proceedings and aftermath, as quoted by Goal.

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

Journalist jokes at Chelsea spending

While Benfica are bitter, it is good spirit in London, as Sports Brief earlier reported that a journalist joked about Chelsea spending during Graham Potter's press conference.

Chelsea prepares to face community rivals Fulham later tonight and the head coach was met by many journalists and while speaking on the full house, the journey said like your dressing room.

The Blues signed eight players in the just concluded window including statement signings of Mykhailo Mudryk for £88m and Enzo Fernandez for £106.8m amongst others.