Chelsea and Benfica chiefs ‘almost had a physical confrontation’ in £107m Enzo Fernandez talks

Chelsea and Benfica bosses almost clashed physically over the future of Enzo Fernández, according to startling reports in Portugal.

The World Cup winner from Argentina made the move to Stamford Bridge for a jaw-dropping British record fee worth £107m on deadline day.

Both sides had been locked in deep talks since the World Cup, with Chelsea impressed by the 22-year-old’s performances in Qatar.

portuguese publication Record have revealed the strong tension that existed between the two camps when they met to discuss Fernández, and how Benfica had pushed for Mateo Kovacic to be included in a swap deal.

Fernandez, eager to move to the Premier League side, is also said to have threatened to post a video tearing apart Benfica’s management.

Chelsea signed Enzo Fernández for a British record fee of £107m on deadline day, although reports suggested there were almost physical confrontations to settle the deal.

The Chelsea and Benfica bosses almost clashed physically when they met on January 3 in a match featuring Todd Boehly (left) and Rui Costa (right).

The report claims that interest from Chelsea led Benfica president Rui Costa to London where discussions took place on January 3 in a meeting attended by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and super agent Portuguese, Jorge Mendes.

It was then that the clubs clashed, with reports that the bosses of both sides were close to physical confrontation in a bitter dispute.

Costa stormed out of the room after Chelsea dropped their original offer of £107m to £80m with players in exchange.

Several were proposed, including Jorginho, who ended up going to Arsenal for £12m, though Kovacic was requested by Benfica.

The 28-year-old Croat was put on the table, although his salary, around £5m a year, made that scenario impossible.

It was then that Chelsea returned with a £107m transfer to Benfica which was completed on deadline day. Although they could have signed him at the end of the season for 89 million pounds according to Costa.

Costa is said to have given the move the green light while Benfica’s 3-0 win against Arouca on deadline day was in progress.

Fernández, worried that the measure would not materialize, threatened to record a video to publish it on social networks with accusations against the Benfica structure.

Fernández is said to have threatened to post a video beating up Benfica’s management

Fernández is among the highest rated young midfielders in the world after his performances for Argentina in Qatar last year.

Benfica wanted Mateo Kovacic if the two clubs made an exchange with Fernández

Fernández is believed to have wanted to move on from the World Cup and defied his club by flying back to Argentina to celebrate the New Year while pushing for a move to England.

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt had claimed no deal would be reached in mid-January, but Chelsea were back for the midfielder after giving up their search for Brighton’s Moisés Caicedo and deciding they would pay Benfica’s full release clause. Fernandez.

Costa explained how unwilling he was to keep an unmotivated player at Benfica and showed little remorse for Fernández’s departure.

Enzo Fernández did not want to stay at Benfica. He didn’t give us any chance,’ the president said in a Bwin event this week.

I did the best I could, I’m sad, but I’m not going to cry for a player who didn’t want to stay. When Chelsea arrived, it was really impossible to make him change his mind.

Costa added: “During deadline day we found an agreement to sell Enzo to Chelsea in the summer, but he didn’t want to stay.

‘From the moment Enzo realized [Chelsea would pay] the value of the clause was implacable. We tried to insist, but the player was not willing to continue at Benfica.

“I proposed to Chelsea that he stay until the summer for less, but the player didn’t want to continue at Benfica, and that’s when everything changed.”

Chelsea manager Graham Potter is hoping World Cup-winning Argentina can make a big impact in helping them rise from their current 10th place in the Premier League.

Fernández, who traveled to London this Wednesday, left a message of thanks to the players, coach and management on social networks, saying: ‘I will always carry them in my heart’.

He was named best young player when Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar last year, and could help revive a fading season for Chelsea that has seen them slip to 10th in the league.

Talking with him club website after arrival, Fernández said: ‘Chelsea is a great club, it is a club that is always fighting for trophies and has won the Champions League in recent years. Together we will seek to achieve everything the club wants and take it to the next level.

‘My family and I are very happy to be here in London and to be able to enjoy the city. I think it’s a really beautiful city, so we’ll enjoy it and have a good time.

‘I haven’t played any of my new teammates yet and haven’t had a chance to chat with any of them yet, but I know who they are and I’m looking forward to working with all of them!’