Enzo Fernandez has shades of Zinedine Zidane in his game as Liverpool and Wolves eye up Benfica’s Argentina international, former Primeira Liga coach Jose Peseiro tells A Bola.
It’s not every day Lionel Messi calls another footballer a ‘spectacular’ talent. Especially one as young and relatively unproven as Enzo Fernandez.
Enzo only made his Argentina debut a couple of months ago. But the former River Plate maestro has clearly made an excellent first impression on his seven-time Ballon D’Or winning skipper.
And Messi is not the only one who has been left open-mouthed by the maturity and the swagger in which this all-action 21-year-old goes about his business.
Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez is a ‘genius’
“Absolutely surprising the level at which he plays at, at only 21 years old,” says an awe-struck Peseiro; the former Porto and Braga coach now in charge of the Nigeria national team.
“The best player I worked with was Zidane, at Real Madrid, when I was part of Professor (Carlos) Queiroz’s coaching staff. Of course, I don’t want to compare. But I’m talking about Enzo’s passing and surprising vision, a bit like Zidane.
“Enzo is 21 years old? Either that’s a lie, or he’s a genius!”
Genius or not, Enzo’s footballing intelligence is certainly above the average. Quite a way above the average, it seems, when you factor in just how quickly he has adapted to life this side of the Atlantic; slotting in effortlessly at a Benfica side still unbeaten this season under new head coach Roger Schmidt.
According to Sky Sports, Fernandez is already being lined up for a big-money move away from Lisbon. Liverpool see the twice-capped Argentine, alongside top target Jude Bellingham, as the man to spruce up a decaying midfield. Wolverhampton Wanderers are not giving up either, despite missing out on Fernandez over the summer (The Sun).
The midfielder will reportedly cost around £44 million these days (Sport).
“Enzo is very intelligent,” Messi explains. “Very good. (Enzo) is a player with a lot of personality, a good pass. Spectacular.”
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