Enzo Fernandez left Chelsea under a cloud. It was quite obvious that Fernandez wanted to leave during the second half of last season, and eventually he moved to Manchester City.

Fernandez frustrated Chelsea fans when he constantly flirted with Real Madrid during the second half of the season. It even saw Liam Rosenior ban him for two games, a decision that earned a mixed reception.

Now, Chelsea fans will feel it was the right call. Fernandez pushed and pushed to leave Chelsea, and in the dying moments of the transfer window, the 2022 World Cup winner got his wish, joining Manchester City.

But as Man City’s form begins to dwindle under the cloud of their 115 charges, Fernandez’s performances have dipped too. Given his £125m record transfer fee, Man City fans are starting to feel underwhelmed.

Steven Gerrard delivers blunt Enzo Fernandez verdict

While Fernandez was brilliant in the three years he spent at Chelsea, the former Benfica star’s downturn in form is likely to have gone down well with the Stamford Bridge support, given the way he left London.

Not least, because his form is struggling under Enzo Maresca. Certainly, Chelsea fans will be delighted with what Steven Gerrard has just said on The Overlap Daily, claiming he hasn’t been a successful signing.

Asked if Fernandez’s move to The Etihad has worked, Gerrard said: “I think he’s a really good player. But you would have to say no at the moment. I think there are a lot of questions getting asked.

“Is it working in there with Anderson? Should Bouaddi be playing? I don’t think they’ve found the right balance in the middle of midfield at the moment. Add Cherki, I think Cherki’s suited for certain games.

“Is Maresca having to pick maybe a stronger midfield in terms of a bit more bite and more aggression in there? Because they got dominated and they didn’t win many duels. They were second-best [at Forest].”

Are Chelsea better off after selling Enzo Fernandez?

Xabi Alonso has changed formation since his arrival, and it is a system that doesn’t really have a spot for Fernandez. Too attacking to play in a double pivot, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are better as 10’s.

Given Chelsea raked in a British record £125m for a player that is struggling to prove he’s worth even half that figure, it is clearly good business. Fernandez’s average FotMob rating this season, so far, is 6.92.

That would make him Chelsea’s tenth-best player this season, with nine Blues stars averaging a rating north of Fernandez. That includes midfielders Moises Caicedo, Jordan Henderson and Romeo Lavia.

Rogers and Palmer are also performing better than Fernandez, according to the stats. Given his lack of form, given the form of Chelsea’s midfielders, and given the £125m received, it is a good deal for Chelsea.