Premier League: Chelsea Supporters Jeer Fernández During Victory Over Real Sociedad

Enzo Fernández's return to Stamford Bridge during Chelsea's 3-1 pre-season win over Real Sociedad on Saturday was met with a negative reaction from some Chelsea supporters, who booed him less than 24 hours after the club's self-imposed transfer deadline had passed. This deadline had been set with the expectation that Chelsea would now retain the midfielder, despite his earlier interest in leaving the club.

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Under the guidance of new manager Xabi Alonso, Chelsea delivered an encouraging performance, with João Pedro scoring twice and Morgan Rogers finding the net on his first appearance for the club.

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The reception given to Fernández, however, overshadowed much of the evening, with the Argentina international having previously expressed his desire to join Real Madrid earlier in the summer before the Spanish club ended their interest.

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Fernández's representatives had also held talks with Manchester City, although no offer was made to meet Chelsea's £120m valuation before the deadline of 17:00 BST on Friday.

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Some Chelsea supporters made their feelings known even before kick-off, booing Fernández when his name was announced around 45 minutes before the match, according to reports.

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The stadium announcer subsequently chose not to read out the names of the substitutes shortly before kick-off, but audible boos could still be heard when Fernández came onto the pitch in the 62nd minute.

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The response from the crowd was divided, with other supporters chanting the midfielder's name, indicating that not all fans were opposed to his presence on the team.

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A notable show of support for Fernández also came from within the Chelsea team, as when Reece James was substituted, he handed the captain's armband to Fernández, reinforcing the midfielder's position within the squad.

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Fernández's every touch was greeted by a mixture of boos and cheers from the crowd, with some supporters even celebrating when he was fouled, highlighting the complex emotions surrounding his situation.

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The reaction to Fernández comes after a summer in which he publicly expressed his desire to move to Real Madrid, with his agent, Javier Pastore, also claiming that the midfielder is underpaid.

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Chelsea now appear set to retain Fernández, at least for the time being, and Alonso's decision to bring him on and allow him to wear the armband suggested the midfielder remains an important part of his plans.

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Fernández could face further scrutiny once the Premier League season begins, particularly due to the controversy surrounding his celebrations and social-media activity after Argentina's World Cup semi-final victory over England in 2022.

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Manchester City could still revive their interest before the Premier League transfer deadline on 1 September, but for now, Fernández remains a Chelsea player.

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The challenge for both Fernández and Alonso will be to ensure the transfer saga does not become a lasting distraction as Chelsea prepare for the new season.