Paris 2024: Enzo Fernandez apologises to Argentina after being refused permission to play at Olympic Games
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Published 26/06/2024 at 21:51 GMT
Enzo Fernandez has revealed that Chelsea have reneged on their promise to allow him to play at the Olympics this summer. The midfielder was hoping to be part of the Argentina U23 squad for the Games in Paris. However, a change of manager at Stamford Bridge means he will no longer be heading to France. That has led Fernandez to apologise to manager Javier Mascherano.
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Enzo Fernandez has apologised to Argentina coach Javier Mascherano after Chelsea reneged on a promise to allow the midfielder to play at the Olympics.
The 23-year-old was expected to be part of the Argentina U23 side for the Games in Paris this summer.
Former Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino had previously said that Fernandez was free to compete in France.
But there has since been a change of manager at Stamford Bridge, with Enzo Maresca taking the reins.
And the Italian has decided he would rather the midfielder rested his legs ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
"I wanted to be there," Fernandez told Argentinian TV channel TyC Sports.
"I did everything possible. Mauricio was at Chelsea before, he had given me the OK. Then, there was a change of coach and the club changed its position.
"I tried, I kept talking, I did everything possible to be there, but it wasn't possible.
"I apologise to Masche [Javier Mascherano]. I wanted to be there. It didn't happen. Hopefully at another time I will be given the opportunity."
Argentina have a terrific recent history at the Olympic Games, winning men's gold in 2004 and 2008.
A young Lionel Messi was part of their squad in Beijing 16 years ago, accompanied by Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Pablo Zabaleta.
The game's biggest names were generally prevented from playing at the Tokyo 2020 games though, with Alexis Mac Allister involved as they failed to get out of the group.
Mascherano will be hoping for better this summer, but his selection will be hampered by the ongoing Copa America.
Fernandez is in Lionel Scaloni's side after recovering from a hernia operation.
Going under the knife meant he missed the end of the season with Chelsea, but he is now hoping to help the Albiceleste recapture the title they won in Brazil three years ago.
They started the tournament strongly, beating Canada 2-0, followed by a 1-0 success against Chile, which means they are through to the quarter-finals.
Following the latter of those two matches, Fernandez said he is comfortable with the decision he made, adding: "They were hard weeks before an important competition like the Copa América, with the national team.
"I made the decision because I couldn't take it anymore. I was in a lot of pain, I was playing uncomfortable, I couldn't run.
"I had injections to be able to continue playing at Chelsea until I made the decision to have surgery.
"There were eight dates left until the end of the tournament and I already wanted to have surgery.
"Chelsea didn't want to because we were playing for cup positions. Today I am here, I am very happy."
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