Liverpool are unlikely to be regretting their failure to sign Enzo Fernandez in 2023.
Enzo had been one of the big stars of the January window last year, ultimately signing for Chelsea in a record-breaking deal.
Prior to joining the Blues though, Enzo had been strongly linked with Liverpool. The Reds were reportedly watching the Argentine even before he joined Benfica in summer of 2022.
However, their hesitation looked to have come back to bite them just six months later. After winning the World Cup with Argentina, Enzo was hot property in the winter market.
Liverpool turned down the chance to sign the 23-year-old for £60m and he eventually joined Chelsea for a whopping £107m. Since then though, it’s safe to say that things have not gone to plan for Enzo.
Enzo Fernandez makes Javier Mascherano apology
Had Enzo arrived at Liverpool a year-and-a-half ago, perhaps things would have been different for him.
He could have formed the first part of the a new look midfield at Anfield and gone on to lead the Reds into a new era under Arne Slot. Instead, Enzo is now getting ready to play under his fifth manager at Chelsea.
The Blues improved at the end of last season, but contributing to finishes of 12th and then 6th – not to mention a Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool – has seen Enzo’s stock plummet.
Despite that, the midfielder still remains a big part of his national team. Enzo is in Argentina’s Copa America squad and started alongside Alexis Mac Allister as they beat Chile on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Argentine national media give their verdict on Alexis Mac Allister’s display vs Chile
As well as turning out at the tournament in the United States, Enzo was hoping to take part in this summer’s Olympics, too.
However, speaking to Argentine outlet TyC Sports, the Chelsea man has confirmed that his club have blocked him from being involved in former Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano’s squad.
“I did everything possible. Mauricio [Pochettino] was at Chelsea before, he had given me the OK. Later, there was a change of coach and the club changed its position,” says Enzo. “I tried, I kept talking, I did everything possible to be there, but it couldn’t be done.
“I apologize to Masche [Mascherano],” he adds. “I wanted to be there. It didn’t happen.”
Javier Mascherano set for next step on coaching journey
With all of the hype over the Copa America and Euro 2024, the Olympics have been a little forgotten this summer.
From a footballing point of view, that’s kind of fair enough. The Olympics is more about other sports, with the football tournament no longer as seen as being especially presitgious.
Nevertheless, Liverpool’s fans do have reason to tune in to events in Paris. It has been reported this week that they are likely to lose Wataru Endo to the competition as he features for Japan.
There also remains a chance that Mohamed Salah ends up playing with Egypt.
As well as those two players, it will also be worth watching to see how Mascherano does. The former midfielder has been in charge of Argentina’s U20 side since 2021.
Having won an Olympic gold medal twice as a player, Masch will be hoping to now translate that into another win as a manager. But he’ll have to do so without Enzo.