Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández has formally withdrawn from the Argentina squad amid a knee complaint. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed the news on Saturday, citing “synovitis in his right knee” as the reason for his removal from the touring roster.
Fernández, 24, had featured in Argentina’s opening friendly against Venezuela, coming off the field in the 78th minute before being substituted. Originally, he was expected to also partake in Argentina’s second friendly against Puerto Rico. However, the AFA announced he would no longer make the trip, and he would return to England for further evaluation and potential treatment.
The announcement comes at a challenging juncture for Chelsea, who have already endured injuries to several midfielders this season, including Cole Palmer, Dario Essugo, and Andrey Santos. Fernández’s absence further deepens Chelsea’s injury woes and leaves manager Enzo Maresca short of key personnel in the middle of the park.
While the precise severity of the synovitis remains unclear, the phrasing of the national team’s communication suggests a cautious approach. The AFA’s post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account stated, “El futbolista de Chelsea Enzo Fernández queda desafectado de la gira por una sinovitis en su rodilla derecha.” Translated, it reads: “The Chelsea player Enzo Fernández is withdrawn from the tour due to synovitis in his right knee.” As of now, Argentina has not indicated whether a replacement will be called up to fill his spot.
Chelsea will anxiously monitor the midfielder’s recovery timeline, especially with their next Premier League match looming on October 18 away to Nottingham Forest. Fernández has been in strong form this season, already registering three league goals, tied for the club’s top scorer position alongside Moisés Caicedo.
His availability is significant to Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who has relied heavily on Fernández’s presence in midfield rotations and buildup play.
In the absence of Fernández, Argentina’s coaching staff must adjust their midfield plans. Possible internal alternatives include utilizing Romeo Lavia, who has played alongside Fernández in earlier national team outings, or shifting Alexis Mac Allister’s position to a deeper playmaking role. Facundo Buonanotte has also been mentioned in some circles as a creative option for a more attacking midfield setup.
Argentina’s head coach now faces the added task of maintaining squad balance amid what is already a compact window of international fixtures. With only two games scheduled on this U.S. tour — one of which Fernández will now miss — and limited preparation time, rhythm and cohesion are especially critical.
The friendly against Puerto Rico now looms with a degree of uncertainty for the world champions as they test new combinations without one of their key midfielders.
From Chelsea’s perspective, Fernández’s withdrawal adds pressure to a midfield unit already stretched thin. With several players still on the injury list, match fitness, rotation options, and workload management become central concerns as the fixture list intensifies heading into the winter months.
Argentina will now look to maintain momentum without him as they conclude their friendlies abroad and prepare for the next round of competitive fixtures. For Chelsea, the focus will be on ensuring that Fernández receives the necessary rest, medical care, and rehabilitation before resuming training.