Benfica chief Rui Costa has not shied away from giving his honest thoughts surrounding Enzo Fernandez's deadline day transfer to Chelsea. Benfica and the Blues agreed a British record transfer fee of £106.7million which saw the World Cup winner complete a move to Stamford Bridge with just hours of the January window remaining.
Fernandez was midfield target number one heading into the winter window and negotiations between the two clubs began in early January, although the stance from the Portuguese club was simple - pay the release clause.
That would've meant Chelsea parting ways with over £100million in one instalment as opposed to the multiple payment plan Chelsea wanted. Eventually, Benfica grew tired of Chelsea's clear reluctance to pay the release clause in full and therefore negotiations ended.
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However, after Brighton issue a similar stance on Moises Caicedo as Benfica did on Fernandez, the Blues returned to negotiations in the final stages of the window. Days of talks took place with Behdad Eghbali getting involved in proceedings.
After hours of meetings, an agreement was reached which would see Fernandez be the recipient of the most expensive fee paid by a British club for a player. After signing, Fernandez outlined his ambitions to succeed in west London.
"It's a big club, it's a club that is always fighting and has won the Champions League and we will look to achieve everything the club wants and take it to the next level," he said. "A lot of great things have happened for me. I'm really happy with the opportunity that Chelsea has given me and I will give my everything to achieve the club's goals."
A loan deal, which would have seen the 22-year-old return to Benfica but earning his full proposed Chelsea wage, was suggested during negotiations but is said to have been turned down by Fernandez. A permanent deal was subsequently struck and despite receiving a large fee for his departure, Benfica chief Rui Costa has delivered a damning verdict on Fernandez now the transfer saga is over.
Speaking at bwin event, he said: "Enzo Fernández 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 gonna cry for a player who didn’t want to stay. When Chelsea arrived, it was really impossible to change his mind.
"During the deadline day we found an agreement to sell Enzo to Chelsea in the summer but he didn’t want to stay. At that point I said, 'he can’t play for Benfica anymore, no way'. I don’t cry for players who doesn’t want to wear our shirt.
“I had the hope that Enzo would want to fight for the championship title with us. When I realized that he didn't want to, I also didn't want him to wear the Benfica shirt again.
"A player who even with the possibility of not losing a Euro and with a secure Chelsea contract, does not want to continue, could never stay at Benfica. This player could no longer enter the locker room."
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