When Fernandez traded Benfica for Chelsea in January 2023, he became the most expensive signing in British football history, having paid £105 million for the deal. The 23-year-old, who was the hero of Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory, has displayed flashes of his ability but has far too frequently fallen short of the expectations placed on him when he was at Stamford Bridge.

Fernandez has not started a league game since the beginning of October and is now behind Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in the standings as Maresca appears to be establishing a stable starting lineup. Maresca said earlier in the month that the Blues had a greater "balance" in midfield thanks to Caiceo and Lavia's pairing, but he also hinted that the Argentine would continue to be an important part of his plans as the season progressed.