Marc Cucurella has admitted that he had to search for Enzo Fernandez online after discovering his future Chelsea team-mate at the World Cup.
The Argentina midfielder was named the Best Young Player in Qatar before sealing a club-record switch to Stamford Bridge.
Having only joined Benfica a few months earlier, 22-year-old Fernandez caught his new colleague by surprise.
Cucurella told ESPN: “I was watching Argentina at the World Cup, because Alexis [Mac Allister] was playing, and I said, ‘I like No24 a lot, he’s very good’.
“And I didn't even know where he played, I had to go check it on my phone.
“When I watched more games, I told my family and friends that I liked him a lot... and then he came to Chelsea!”
Since arriving at Chelsea, Fernandez has impressed Cucurella with the Spanish defender able to reveal his admiration for his performances during the winter tournament.
He added: “I told Enzo that I liked him at the World Cup.
“He's a good guy, I’m waiting for him to cook me a barbecue. He's very young, talented on the ball, smart at recovering the ball. He's adapting, he's a great midfielder.”
