Chelsea have denied a report in Portuguese media that club chiefs almost came to blows with their Benfica counterparts during negotiations for Enzo Fernandez.
Record reported that heavy tension during the conversions almost left to a physical altercation, which the Premier League outfit have rubbished.
Fernandez made a deadline day move for a British record fee of £107million after just six months in Europe having helped Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar.
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The Daily Mail report that Chelsea denied Record‘s claim without making a comment, with Benfica president Rui Costa said to have left the room in a disagreement over the 22-year-old’s value.
Costa has since hit out at the player for his involvement in the move, saying that he won’t be crying for anyone who doesn’t want to play for the club.
Costa told BTV: “We lost a great player but I’m not going to cry for a player who doesn’t want to represent Benfica.
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“[I] don’t cry for players who don’t want to be here.
“I was raised in this club and told to honour the jersey, otherwise where is the phrase ‘we only want players who honour the jersey’?”
Fernandez was keen to make the Premier League switch after his Qatar heroics, telling the club after the move was confirmed: “I’m really happy with the opportunity that Chelsea has given me and I will give my everything to achieve the club’s goals.
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“As a player and a person, I offer good energy, good vibes and I will give my all and support my team-mates to make them even better.
“Chelsea is a big club, it’s a club that is always fighting for trophies and has won the Champions League in recent years. Together, we will look to achieve everything the club wants and take it to the next level.
“Myself and my family are really happy to be here in London and to be able to enjoy the city. I think it’s a really beautiful city, so we will enjoy it and have a good time.”
Todd Boehly will hope his major investment pays off, and Fernandez will want to get off to a winning start on Friday night as Graham Potter’s Chelsea host west London rivals Fulham (8pm) in the Premier League.
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