Emmanuel Petit Urges Chelsea to Swap Enzo Fernandez for Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga

Emmanuel Petit, the former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder who won the 1998 FIFA World Cup with France, has publicly backed a swap deal that would see Enzo Fernandez depart Chelsea for Real Madrid in exchange for Eduardo Camavinga moving in the opposite direction.

Speaking to BetVictor Live Casino, Petit outlined his reasoning for the proposed exchange, drawing attention to both Fernandez’s reported discontent at Stamford Bridge and Camavinga’s potential value to a young Chelsea squad. “Eduardo Camavinga in a swap deal with Enzo Fernandez? Why not?” Petit said. “Camavinga is still a very young player. He left Rennes for Madrid when he was eighteen years old and he has played for six or seven years for Real Madrid.”

Petit pointed to the silverware Camavinga has accumulated during his time in the Spanish capital as a key asset Chelsea currently lack across their squad. “He has won some big trophies too. This guy has been an amazing young prospect,” he added. “Camavinga can be very good because we know that at Chelsea most of them are young players. He’s got experience. When you come from Real Madrid to Chelsea having won many trophies… you arrive at the club with experience that’s probably missing at Chelsea.”

The Frenchman was equally direct regarding Fernandez’s position at the club, referencing previous public statements made by the player that reportedly led to disciplinary action. “Enzo Fernandez should go, you cannot keep a player happy if he wants to leave,” Petit insisted. “He did say that he wanted to leave and he was fined by the club. I know he’s probably been one of the best players for Chelsea for the last two years, but you cannot be the captain of the team and have this kind of communication.”

Petit went further, suggesting Fernandez’s frustration reflects wider instability within the club. “Obviously he wants to leave the club, we are not stupid,” he continued. “I think he’s been fed up and tired with what’s going on at Chelsea. It’s been a mess this season. Obviously he is targeted by Real Madrid. Real Madrid desperately needs to get some strong and powerful midfield players. I won’t be surprised if he leaves the club.”

Fernandez, who is contracted at Chelsea until 2032, joined the club from Benfica in January 2023 for a reported fee of around £107 million — a British transfer record at the time. Despite being among the club’s standout performers across recent seasons, according to reports his relationship with the club has become strained following his public comments about wanting a move away.

Adding further weight to the possibility of a deal, reports from El Nacional suggest that returning Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is open to selling Camavinga for a figure between €50 million and €80 million. However, this has not been confirmed by either club.

Camavinga, who joined Real Madrid from Stade Rennais in 2021, has been a key squad member at the Bernabéu, contributing to multiple La Liga and UEFA Champions League triumphs. His future at the club is reportedly uncertain under Mourinho’s revamped setup, creating a potential opening for a departure this summer.

For Chelsea, the proposal represents one of several options being considered as the club looks to reshape its midfield ahead of the 2026-27 season. Whether a straight swap of this magnitude — involving two players of significant market value — could be agreed upon by both clubs remains to be seen.