Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez’s now signature goal celebration could be linked to the midfielder’s new love interest, internet sleuths believe.
The Argentina international found the back of the net in blue against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, continuing the good run of form that has seen him score or assist in four consecutive games for Chelsea in all competitions.
Fernandez’s start to the season could not have been in a more somber tone, with the player in danger of sanctions after live-streaming his Argentina teammates singing a racist song in the aftermath of their Copa America this summer.
The 23-year-old was also banned from driving and fined £3,000 in September, and is said to have split from his childhood sweetheart Valentina Cervantes, with whom he shares two children, Olivia and Benjamin, at the end of October.
But amid a pleasant purple spot on the pitch, online commentators believe Fernandez owes his success in front of goal to his new relationship.
After scoring against Villa, Fernandez made the same call he made after scoring against Leicester at the King Power Stadium a week earlier.
Enzo Fernandez celebrated his goal against Aston Villa with his increasingly ubiquitous phone gesture
Fans online have linked the new celebration to his supposedly budding romance with Nicki Nicole
Fernandez split from the mother of his children, high school sweetheart Valentina Cervantes, less than two months ago
And fans of the midfielder have linked the celebration to a budding relationship with Argentine rapper-singer Nicki Nicole – who has a popular song released in 2023 called Llamame (Call Me).
Neither Nicole nor Fernandez have commented on the supposedly budding romance yet, but according to La NacionThe pair are said to have met at the Moby Dick nightclub in Buenos Aires at the end of October.
Fernandez is believed to have split from Cervantes before the start of his relationship with Nicole, but the pair were filmed chatting in the nightclub on TikTok. Shortly after the video went viral, Nicole shared a comment saying she attended the party with “the person (she is) currently dating.”
According to the outlet, Nicole – who has a whopping 22.6 million Instagram followers – was previously in a relationship with Formula 1 prospect Franco Colapinto.
Cervantes – who followed Fernandez to west London after signing his then £106m contract with Chelsea in January 2023 – was the party to announce their split on Instagram, writing that the former couple would ‘always be family and support each other through everything.”
“I know the person and the excellent father Enzo, and the heart he has,” Cervantes’ post continued. ‘And that’s enough for me.
“They don’t want to create wars that don’t exist.”
Cervantes had a similarly sympathetic take on the breakup a month later when she appeared on the Argentine television program LAM and said her background as a child of divorced parents had shaped her adult perspective.
Fernandez also took part in the celebration after scoring against Leicester at the King Power Stadium
Nicole is a singer-rapper in their native Argentina and released a song called Lllamame in 2023
The pop star has no fewer than 22.6 million Instagram followers and is said to have previously had a relationship with Formula 1 star Franco Colapinto
“Everyone takes it and goes through different processes. I tried to go for the healthier side,” Cervantes told reporter Alejandro Castelo. ‘I love Enzo, I would never disrespect him.
“He is someone who has accompanied me for many years and I have accompanied him too, and I will continue to accompany him.”
Cervantes added that she felt “comfortable” with her current relationship status as a single and explained that the breakup had nevertheless been “a surprise.”
“There could have been fatigue on his part, but there wasn’t on my part,” she added.
“What he’s been doing since the day we broke up is his life. I’m not going to get involved and I’m going to respect the woman he chooses, as long as my children are okay.
“Just as I respect him, I also respect the woman he wants by his side.”
Cervantes and Fernandez share two children together: daughter Olivia and son Benjamin
The influencer has expressed her wish that her and Fernandez’s relationship remains amicable if they part ways
Fernandez is enjoying a rich run of form under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca
Fernandez will look to continue his impressive form under Enzo Maresca against Southampton in midweek in the Premier League as the team continues to challenge at the top of the table.
Level with Arsenal, but in alphabetical order Chelsea are in third place in the standings after an unbeaten November.
The west London side are also at the very top of the UEFA Conference League table thanks to their impeccable record, which saw them secure their latest victory last week against arguably their toughest opponents in the league stage, Heidenheim.
Fernandez and Chelsea will be keen to continue their winning run in their penultimate draw against Kazakh side Astana next Thursday.