Why has Enzo Fernandez been dropped by Chelsea? Real Madrid links explained

Enzo Fernandez has been dropped from Chelsea's squad for their next two matches after publicly hinting at a move to Real Madrid during the international break.

The Argentina midfielder will sit out Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and next weekend's Premier League clash with Manchester City.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a summer switch to the Bernabeu for months, but it was comments made away on international duty that finally forced the club's hand.

After Chelsea's heavy Champions League last-16 defeat to PSG, Fernandez told ESPN Argentina he didn't know if he'd still be at Stamford Bridge next season, adding:

"My focus is here now. Then the World Cup coming up, so we'll see after that."

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He then went further during the Argentina camp, telling media personality Marcos Giles:

"I really like Madrid - it's similar to Buenos Aires."

Asked whether he could see himself living there, he said "yes, of course."

What did Chelsea's head coach say about Enzo?

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior addressed the situation head-on at his Friday press conference, confirming the player had been told face-to-face.

"I spoke with Enzo an hour ago. We've made a decision - he won't be available for tomorrow's game and he won't be available for Manchester City.

"It's disappointing to speak in that way. What I will say about Enzo is that, in terms of him as a person, I've got no bad words to say. But a line was crossed in terms of our culture. We had to make a sanction."

Rosenior was keen to stress this isn't the end of the road for Fernandez at Chelsea, framing the axing as a short-term punishment rather than a sign of a full breakdown.

"He's frustrated because he wanted Chelsea to be successful this year. He still wants that, and we still can be. The door is not closed on Enzo - that's very important. It's a sanction. You have to protect this club and culture, and in terms of that, the line was crossed in the international break."

Chelsea fixture schedule: Next five games

• Chelsea vs. Port Vale | FA Cup quarterfinals | Saturday, April 4
• Chelsea vs. Manchester City | Premier League | Sunday, April 12
• Chelsea vs. Manchester United | Premier League | Saturday, April 18
• Brighton vs. Chelsea | Premier League | Sunday, April 26
• Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest | Premier League | Monday, May 4