Benfica star Enzo Fernandez is just one of a number of midfielders linked with a move to Liverpool over the summer.
The Portuguese club ultimately won the race to sign him from River Plate, but he was reportedly the subject of interest from many European giants, including the Reds. Sky Sports' Melissa Reddy reported at the end of the transfer window the club have kept a 'watching brief' on the Argentina international.
Since the deadline, rumours haven't subsided as Liverpool continue to be linked with a move for Fernandez in the future. The ECHO caught up with Argentina football expert and podcast host Bruno González García to get the lowdown on one of the continent's most promising young talents.
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How important was Enzo Fernandez for River Plate and how did his career at the club unfold?
"He was a very important player. Despite his youth, he had shown on loan at Defensa y Justicia in 2020 that he could be the orchestrator of a team like River. He found himself in an unusual situation for a player of his age, joining a team to replace a key player in Nacho Fernandez, who had joined Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro, and he did it with flying colours. In a few months he became one of the best players in Argentina at just 20 years old.
"In a fleeting way, his loan in 2020 was down to not having a place in the squad as he was 19 years old. A year later, he returned to take on a key role in the squad. We can't say that he skipped stages, but he definitely went through the stages faster than a normal player."
He was linked with Manchester City, Manchester United, Wolves and Juventus before joining Benfica. Why do you think Europe's top clubs have been drawn to him?
"Argentine football in general is surrounded by many rumours during the transfer windows. Many times it is a specific interest and other times it is just speculation. And on some occasions there are clubs that don't dare to invest in a player who hasn't played in Europe yet. Benfica made the gamble and for the moment everything is going well."
What type of midfielder is Fernandez?
"He has all the characteristics of a top class midfielder: he's daring, has good positioning, a brilliant reader of the game, strong, with class, with a lot of technique. In addition, his heat maps show he's everywhere, which allows him to be in constant contact with the game. It is not normal for a player who plays in midfield to score three goals in his first three games in Europe without that being his primary role within the team."
How do you see Fernandez in the Argentine team? Will he be an important player at the World Cup?
"His debut in the Argentine National Team was on September 23, 2022, so we are not completely sure that he will be called up for the World Cup. It is known that he is a player that Lionel Scaloni likes a lot and that he has a differentiating factor: he plays well in all midfield positions.
"We will have to wait a while longer but he has many chances to go to Qatar after the tour of the Argentine National Team in the United States."
Which players would you compare Enzo Fernández to?
" Thiago Alcantara comes to mind because of the similarity of the times he tries long shots."
Do you think Enzo Fernandez suits Liverpool's type of football?
"I think so. Because he is a boy who in a few years of his career has already shown that he can adapt to different teams in different realities: Defense and Justice, River, Benfica, Argentina. There are four totally different realities and Enzo managed to stand out in each one.
"Liverpool have a coach who not only trains, but also teaches and educates, and that is fundamental for a youngster, even more so if that youngster is open to learning as in this case."
Can you imagine Fernandez in the Premier League one day?
"Yes. I think it is the league that best suits Enzo's game. Because of the speed, the importance of the midfield, the style of play that he proposes."
How can he improve as a player?
"With more games. The time in Europe will benefit him a lot. I think he still has room to improve when his team doesn't have possession of the ball."
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