Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi has directly responded to recent claims made by Enzo Fernández’s agent, insisting the situation surrounding the midfielder’s high-profile transfer to Chelsea is not as some believe.
The comments come after the agent, Uriel Pérez, suggested in an interview that Brighton’s initial demands during the negotiations were a major obstacle. Pérez claimed the Seagulls asked for a fee exceeding €12 million just for the negotiation rights, before any formal bid was even tabled for the player, who was then at River Plate.
De Zerbi, however, has offered a firm rebuttal. Speaking to the media, the Italian coach stated, “The truth is not what people think. Enzo Fernández’s agent is not telling the truth. I know the whole story because I was there.”
He revealed a key detail from the negotiations, confirming that Brighton’s owner, Tony Bloom, was prepared to meet River Plate’s asking price for the Argentine World Cup winner. “Tony Bloom was ready to pay the €10 million that River Plate wanted,” De Zerbi asserted.
According to the Brighton manager, the deal ultimately fell through due to the demands from the player’s camp, not the club’s valuation. “The problem was the requests from Enzo’s side. We withdrew from the deal because of that,” he explained, firmly placing the reason for the collapsed transfer away from the club’s hierarchy.
Enzo Fernández eventually made his move to Europe in the summer of 2022, joining Portuguese side Benfica. His impressive performances there, culminating in a World Cup triumph with Argentina, prompted Chelsea to break the British transfer record to sign him for a fee reported to be around £106.8 million in January 2023.
De Zerbi’s clear and pointed remarks aim to set the record straight on Brighton’s role in the saga, defending the club’s conduct during the complex transfer talks.
