Enzo Fernandez probably knew he wasn’t going to get a cosy, warm welcome everywhere after returning to England from the World Cup.
The Argentina midfielder arrived back with plenty of attention following a controversial tournament and then completed a British-record £125m move to Man City. There were questions about the fee, his character and where exactly Enzo Maresca would use him. City bought him anyway.
Fernandez winning over Man City supporters
The Athletic reports that Fernandez has already made a good impression around the club, while he’s been staying behind after training to practise free-kicks.
That particular bit of extra work didn’t take long to show. Fernandez scored his first City goal in Sunday’s 5-3 win over Sunderland, catching Robin Roefs out with a clever free-kick from a position where almost everyone inside the Etihad expected a cross.
Maresca wasn’t surprised. “I know Enzo,” he said afterwards. “I know how good he is. I know how he wants to win games.”
Asked whether he expected City supporters to take to Fernandez so quickly, Maresca simply replied: “Yes, to be honest.” It’s quite a turnaround from the conversation around him when he arrived.
Fernandez divided opinion even among City supporters, and he’s unlikely to become popular with opposition fans any time soon. Coventry supporters taunted him on his debut earlier this month, with the Independent suggesting it might be a taste of what awaits him at away grounds.
England fans have long memories when it comes to players involved in heated World Cup moments, and Fernandez is an easy target. City can’t do much about that. Nor will Fernandez be able to stop the boos when he turns up at certain grounds.
What he can do is make sure City’s supporters are singing louder.
It’s early and nobody can judge a £125m transfer after a handful of games. But Fernandez already has his own song, has started City’s last three Premier League matches and now has his first goal. The noise hasn’t disappeared. It’s just beginning to sound rather different when Fernandez is wearing sky blue.
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