Enzo Fernandez has drawn criticism from England fans for perceived taunts following Argentina's 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semifinals. The Chelsea midfielder's actions after the match could lead to a hostile reception from opposing supporters should he remain with the London club next season.
Fernandez posted on Instagram a picture of himself with teammates Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes. The post was accompanied by the Oasis song "Wonderwall," which had become an anthem for the England team during their World Cup campaign in North America. Fernandez later shared the post without the song.
Earlier, the 25-year-old midfielder had leveled the score for Argentina in the 85th minute. He then ran towards England supporters, cupped his hands behind his ears, stuck out his tongue, and blew a kiss.
Chelsea's social media team initially posted a celebratory photo of Fernandez's equalizer on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption "Enzo Fernandez" and an explosion emoji. However, the post was met with an immediate backlash from England supporters. Many fans expressed disappointment, with one calling the post "poor" for an English club, and another stating it was "grim" for an English club to post such content.
Amidst the backlash, Chelsea deleted the post. Fernandez's future at Chelsea has been subject to speculation after he previously expressed a desire to live in Spain, with links to Real Madrid emerging. These comments led to an internal two-match ban for the player in April. New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has recently stated his desire for Fernandez to remain at the club next season, following a statement from Real Madrid denying interest in the player.