Several Manchester City players were eager to see Enzo Fernández join the club and repeatedly asked whether the transfer would happen, manager Enzo Maresca has revealed.
Fernández completed a joint-British record £125 million move from Chelsea to City on deadline day, reuniting with Maresca, who previously coached him at Stamford Bridge.
The Argentina international is expected to make his City debut against newly promoted Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Maresca, who made Fernández captain during their time at Chelsea, said the midfielder’s winning mentality made him a welcome addition to the squad.
“I can promise you that in the last four or five days, four or five players from the squad were asking if he was coming or not because they wanted him to be with us,” Maresca said.
“It’s very important that he is with us and we are 100% happy with that.”
Fernández, 25, said in an interview with City on Thursday that he had always “dreamed of being at a club as big as City”, comments that were widely viewed as a pointed reference to his departure from Chelsea.
He had been pushing to leave Stamford Bridge since the beginning of the year, despite discussions with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso.
Alonso acknowledged the midfielder’s departure while praising his contribution to Chelsea.
“With Enzo we have had conversations and always with respect. What he has done for the club has been great, but now it’s time to move forward,” Alonso said.
City spent a club-record £458 million during the transfer window, with £327 million going towards midfielders Fernández, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Maresca praised the club’s ownership and sporting hierarchy for completing the squad overhaul.
“In the last days, Iliman and Enzo arrived, and now the squad is complete – it’s finished. Now it is time to work,” he said.
