Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez out of Argentina squad with knee injury: ‘I’m in a lot of pain’

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has withdrawn from the Argentina squad to face Angola this month due to an ongoing knee injury.

The 24-year-old has revealed he is in “a lot of pain” due to a bone edema in his knee, and has decided to sit out the international break to recuperate.

“I’ve been talking with the medical staff (of the Argentine national side) because I’ve been dealing with a knee problem for four months,” Fernandez told ESPN’s SportsCenter after Saturday’s Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

“I’ve had bone edema that become worse in recent weeks due to the number of games I have played.”

Fernandez has featured 16 times for Chelsea this season, and has played 79 games for club and country since the start of the 2024-25 campaign.

He continued: “We made the decision together that I should rest for these two weeks, since the important part comes at the end of the season (the Finalissima against Spain and World Cup). It was very good to have discussed it and decide together that this is the best thing for my knee.

“I’m in a lot of pain. I’ll try to recover as much as possible over these two or three weeks and be 100 per cent ready to train and play with my teammates again.”

The British National Health Service (NHS) describes edema, which can occur in knees, ankles or feet, as “often caused by a build-up of fluid in these areas”.

In October, Fernandez withdrew from the Argentina squad with membrane swelling in his right knee. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said he had been diagnosed with synovitis, a swelling of the synovial membrane, with a statement including a photo of Fernandez with strapping on that knee.

Fernandez played 83 minutes of Saturday’s three-goal win over Wolves, before being substituted off for Andrey Santos. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said after the match that the Argentina international had asked to be substituted due to his pain.

The midfielder has featured in 10 of Chelsea’s 11 Premier League matches this campaign, and will miss Argentina’s friendly match against Angola on November 14.