Soccer-Fernandez's agent criticises Chelsea's 'unfair' ban


Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Mauritania - Estadio La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 27, 2026 Argentina's Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

April 4 (Reuters) - Enzo ⁠Fernandez’s agent Javier Pastore has criticised Chelsea’s ⁠decision to ban the midfielder for two ‌games after recent public comments about his future, saying the Argentina international does not understand the punishment.

Fernandez will miss Saturday’s ​FA Cup quarter-final against Port ⁠Vale and next Sunday’s ⁠Premier League match at Manchester City.

Last week the World ⁠Cup ‌winner said he would "look at his options after the World Cup" and expressed ⁠a desire to live in Spain.

"The punishment ​is completely ‌unfair," Pastore told the Athletic newspaper.

"There's no ⁠real reason ​or justification for why he has been banned. Enzo didn't understand the situation."

The 25-year-old, who is under ⁠contract until 2032 and has captained ​Chelsea in the absence of injured Reece James, has been linked with Real Madrid, although he denied ⁠talks with the Spanish club.

"When the coach told him, he accepted it because he's a highly professional guy who's always fully committed, wherever he ​is, and respects decisions," Pastore ⁠said.

"But we don't understand the punishment because he ​doesn't mention any club or ‌say he wants to leave ​Chelsea, far from it."

(Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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