Emmanuel Petit, the former Chelsea midfielder, believes Enzo Fernández has mentally checked out of the club and that a summer departure is the most likely outcome for all involved.

Petit pointed to Fernández's links with Real Madrid, his visible unhappiness with the club's direction, and a series of provocative public gestures as evidence that the Argentina international's heart is no longer at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's firm stance on valuation

Chelsea have made their position clear — any club hoping to acquire Fernández will need to meet a valuation in the region of £120 million. The club have shown no willingness to negotiate from a position of weakness, even amid growing uncertainty over the player's commitment.

Petit, however, argues that holding out for maximum value matters little if the player himself is determined to leave. Fernández has already faced an internal suspension and made public comments widely interpreted as pointing toward a move to Spain.

Petit's verdict: separate ways

Speaking to Mr Gamble, Petit was unequivocal in his assessment. "I would be shocked if Enzo Fernandez stays because obviously he doesn't want to stay in England. You can see how he behaved during the World Cup," he said.

"I think he knows it, and this is why he did it, because he wants to go even further with this idea of breaking the relationship with Chelsea. I think he tried everything he could in the last few months to send strong messages to the Chelsea board saying, 'Listen, you see that I don't want to stay.'"

Petit drew a pointed contrast with Marc Cucurella, suggesting the defender's loyalty stood in sharp relief against Fernández's conduct. "I think Fernandez doesn't care about Chelsea. Cucurella did care a lot," he added.

Petit's conclusion was blunt: "For the best interest of both parties, they should just separate ways. Simple as that. It's time to get rid of him."

Club already feeling the fallout

Chelsea were compelled to delete a social media post celebrating Fernández's equaliser against England following fierce public backlash — an episode that underlined just how complicated his situation at the club has become. With the pressure building on both sides, a clean break before the next season could represent the most pragmatic solution for Chelsea.