Enzo Fernandez has hinted at a return to Argentina later in his career.
Fernandez, 25, joined City from Chelsea on deadline day in a deal worth a reported £125 million, which equalled the British transfer record, and signed a long-term contract that is reported to run until 2031.
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The Argentina international came through the academy at River Plate and made his first-team debut in 2020, before a loan spell at Defensa y Justicia and a second stint with River preceded his moves to Benfica in 2022 and Chelsea in January 2023.
Fernandez was reunited at the Etihad Stadium with Enzo Maresca, his former manager at Chelsea, and the midfielder scored his first goal for the Blues with a disguised free-kick during a 5-3 Premier League win at Sunderland in September.
Speaking in an interview with Argentine journalists Gastón Edul and Esteban Edul, as relayed by Sport Witness, Fernandez was asked about the prospect of returning to River Plate at some point in his career.
“I want to return to River at some point, I’ve said it several times,” the former Chelsea man said. “I’m going to return, I’m sure. It’s something I really want. I stand by my words and what’s on record.
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“If I say it, it’s because I feel it and know I need to return to win things and enjoy the River Plate world for many more years than I did. Today, I’m here with a long contract at Man City. There’s still a long way to go, but it will happen.”
Fernandez also spoke about Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final during the same interview, crediting the Spanish side and pointing to fatigue in the squad after extra time in two earlier knockout rounds of the tournament in the summer.
Fernandez made his Manchester City debut against Coventry City in September after coming in for Nico O’Reilly, who was injured in the warm-up, and the Argentina international provided the pass that led to Erling Haaland’s winner in a 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium.
The 25-year-old has since become a regular alongside Elliot Anderson in the biggest games, with Maresca naming the pair together for the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa last Saturday ahead of 19-year-old summer signing Ayyoub Bouaddi.
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It was a quick free-kick from Fernandez that started the move for Haaland’s headed equaliser at Villa Park, although Nicolas Jackson scored twice for the hosts to end Manchester City’s run of seven straight Premier League wins at the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
Maresca then made changes for the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, with five first-team regulars given three days off before the holders drew 2-2 with Brighton and Hove Albion and progressed 4-3 on penalties to set up a fifth-round tie with Bradford City in December.
Geronimo Rulli saved two penalties in the shootout and Rayan Cherki scored the decisive spot-kick, with Mateo Kovacic having levelled the score in the first half after Malick Yalcouyé opened the scoring for Fabian Hürzeler’s side at the Etihad Stadium.
Fernandez is not the only River Plate academy graduate on Manchester City’s books, with Claudio Echeverri spending the season on loan at Benfica, where the Argentine attacking midfielder has said he is open to an extended stay in Portugal.
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The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner is expected to start on Saturday as Manchester City host Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, three days after knocking Hürzeler’s side out of the Carabao Cup on penalties, before a trip to RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League.
