Xabi Alonso explains shock Enzo Fernandez U-turn in new Chelsea transfer twist

The 25-year-old missing the Luton game was the clearest indication yet that he could well be on the move before Tuesday night’s (September 1) 11pm BST deadline.“We assess individually, collectively, what's the best for the team, for tonight, what was better for other players that were playing and we take the decision,” Alonso said of Fernandez’s high-profile omission.On reports from Argentina claiming that Fernandez himself had asked not to feature against Luton, Alonso added: “No, it was a decision from myself and from the club.”Embrace: Xabi Alonso and Enzo Fernandez after Chelsea’s Premier League win over FulhamPAAsked whether Fernandez’s omission was because club-to-club talks between City and Chelsea are now taking place, he said: “No, it's just because of the game today and we had other players that needed minutes and it was that way.”Alonso claimed that he made the decision to drop Fernandez on Wednesday afternoon, after the press conference in which he had stated that he expected him to play some part against Luton.“It's a decision that I took,” he said, failing to confirm whether he had spoken directly to Fernandez.Read More“He's a good professional. He's training well and I have nothing to say about him. It was just a decision that we had to take, thinking about the game that we're playing tonight and we'll see for Sunday [against Brighton].”