Enzo Fernandez has claimed that he plans to swap shirts with Moises Caicedo when Argentina kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign against Ecuador. Lionel Scaloni's side will welcome La Tri to the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Thursday evening, and it's expected to be fiery affair as the reigning champions look to defend their crown.
In an interview with ESPN, Fernandez said that he's stayed in contact with Caicedo over the international, revealing that they plan to swap shirts to mark the occasion. Surprisingly, it seems as if the Argentinian has some how persuaded his new Chelsea teammate to snub Lionel Messi – and several other big names like Angel Di Maria, JuliAn Alvarez and Alexis Mac Allister.
"Moises is a great person," said Fernandez. "He has now arrived at Chelsea, we have talked a little about everything, not specifically about the game [between Argentina and Ecuador] but about changing the shirt [swapping shirts after the game]."
Ahead of the international break, Fernandez also addressed his new role in midfield at Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old was utilised as a holding midfielder under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard before being pushed forward into a more advanced role under Mauricio Pochettino
While he's been given the freedom to roam the final third at Chelsea, he usually operates much deeper for his country. Fernandez said: "Now I am playing further forward, but it does not change because as a boy I played as a five and of eight.
"I don't have a problem but it is a big difference; from five maybe you have to stay with the defenders, but later on you have to let go more and help the forwards."
With Lavia building his match fitness at Cobham over the international break, supporters will be hoping to see him in action alongside Fernandez and Caicedo against Bournemouth. Despite forking out around £250million on the trio, they are still yet to appear alongside one another.
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While the expenditure suggests that there is a lot to look forward, Graeme Souness believes that Chelsea will have a massive hole in the middle of the pitch. Speaking to the Mail Online, the former Liverpool defender said: "Every midfield player I played with at Liverpool was a goalscorer, a creator and worked their socks off defensively.
"You didn't play for a top team if you were a passenger. You can have the best goalkeeper, defence and midfield but unless you can put the ball in the net, you don't win matches.
"The numbers speak for themselves. Fernandez didn't score for Chelsea last season. Caicedo scored once for Brighton. Lavia scored once for Southampton."
