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Xabi Alonso has made it clear he wants Enzo Fernandez to remain at Chelsea as he begins his tenure as the club's new manager.
The Spaniard was officially unveiled at Stamford Bridge on Monday and addressed the media for the first time since taking over following his departure from Real Madrid in January. Among the key topics was the future of Fernandez, who has recently been linked with a move away from west London.
The Argentina midfielder, currently preparing for his country's World Cup semi-final against England, has reportedly been open to leaving Chelsea. Real Madrid had been mentioned as a possible destination, but the Spanish club denied interest last week. With no other concrete options emerging and Chelsea valuing the midfielder at around £120 million, his immediate future appears to remain at Stamford Bridge.
Asked whether he wanted Fernandez to stay, Alonso gave a straightforward response.
"Yes," he said, before revealing that the pair had already spoken privately. He declined to discuss the details of that conversation.
Alonso also confirmed striker Nicolas Jackson will return to the squad after Bayern Munich chose not to make his loan spell permanent. The Senegal international is expected to travel with Chelsea for the club's pre-season tour of Australia and Asia.
"Nico Jackson is joining the tour in Asia, and we are looking forward to working with him," Alonso said.
The situation is different for Alejandro Garnacho, who has yet to return to training. Alonso explained there is an agreement for the winger to stay away from the first-team group while he explores a transfer. Serie A side Roma are among the clubs interested in signing the Argentine.
Chelsea narrowly missed out on European qualification after losing to Sunderland on the final day of last season. Shortly before Alonso's news conference, midfielder Andrey Santos completed a move to Manchester United, prompting questions about whether the absence of European football would lead to further changes in the squad.
Alonso insisted the club's plans remain largely unchanged despite the disappointment.
He said Chelsea's recruitment strategy is fully aligned with the sporting directors and that the club has a clear understanding of the areas it wants to strengthen before the transfer window closes.
The 44-year-old described it as a privilege to manage a club with Chelsea's history and said he was excited by the opportunity to build a successful team. Since arriving, he has been working with a large group of players at Cobham, while only a handful remain away on World Cup duty.
Alonso said his focus is on creating a winning mentality, building a strong connection with supporters and making the right decisions both on and off the pitch. While he acknowledged qualifying for European competition is an important objective, he stressed that consistent performances and the right approach will be essential to achieving that goal.
Confident and composed throughout his first media appearance, Alonso handled questions about several high-profile players with clarity, while making one thing certain: he wants Fernandez to remain a key part of Chelsea's future.
