Enzo Maresca said Enzo Fernández left a big club when he departed Chelsea and joined another big club at Manchester City.The comments came after Fernández completed a joint-British record £125 million move from Chelsea on deadline day. The Argentina midfielder signed a five-year deal until 2031.Fernández said in his first City interview that he had always dreamed of being at a club as big as City. The remark was viewed by some as a slight on Chelsea.Maresca addressed that view.Maresca said: ‘My view is that he was in a big club at Chelsea and he joins a big club at Man City.’The pair worked together at Stamford Bridge. They won the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Maresca left Chelsea in January 2026 and later took charge at City after Pep Guardiola departed.Maresca pushed for the transfer. Fernández said the manager was important in making the deal happen.Fernández said: ‘He is a top manager, honestly. I had him at my previous club. They were incredible moments. I learned so much with him.’Maresca called Fernández a winner with a winner’s mentality. He said four or five City players asked in the final days of the window whether Fernández was coming because they wanted him in the squad.Maresca said Fernández is ready to make his City debut against Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.City have spent heavily on midfield this summer after the exits of Rodri and Bernardo Silva. Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi also arrived. Fernández is the first player in football history to move for more than £100 million twice.
