Spanish coach Xabi Alonso, Chelsea's coach, confirmed that it is time to turn the page on the departure of Argentine Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City, calling for focusing on the next stage after completing the deal on the last day of the summer transfer period.
Fernandes moved from Chelsea to Manchester City for 125 million pounds (about 169 million dollars), in a deal that equaled the British record.
Chelsea tried to compensate for Fernandes' departure by signing midfielder Lamine Kamara from Monaco, but the French club backed out of completing the deal.
Alonso said before facing Arsenal on Sunday in the English Premier League: “We make all decisions together, and we are responsible for them through our joint work, whether the decisions are big or small. We knew the ultimate goal was to do what was best for the team, the roster and the day-to-day work here. We want to build a good spirit and a good team, and we have always made our decisions based on our desire to achieve this.”
He added: “In football, many things happen, and you must be prepared for everything. As for Enzo, we had conversations, but always with respect as well. What he did for the club was wonderful, and we are grateful to him, but now it is time to move on.”
The Spanish coach continued: “We have a lot of great personalities, and high-quality players in all different positions, and now we are ready to go.”
British news agency PA Media quoted Alonso as saying: “I think we are ready and happy with the team’s roster and its depth, and with the healthy competition we have in the different positions. “There is a good balance between players at different stages of their career.”
He added: “We have only played two matches so far, but the start was good, and now we know who the players are on the team, and it is good to have this clear picture.”
The Spanish coach noted: “We can be very happy with the entire transfer period. “What we started talking about in late May and early June, we were able to achieve a lot of.”
The matches of the third round of the Italian Football League will witness two summit matches between the major teams in the competition, so that the real competition begins between those betting on winning the title and the qualifying places for the European Championships.
On Saturday, the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan will witness a summit that brings together the last two Italian League champions, Inter Milan, the title holder last season, and Napoli, the winner of the 2024-2025 season title.
The two teams enter the match in different circumstances, as Inter Milan occupies second place in the competition standings with six points, with a goal difference only behind leaders Roma, and the blue and black team achieved victory in the first two matches at the expense of Monza 4-1 and Cagliari 1-0.
On the other hand, Napoli suffered a loss at home, which made its fans anxious, against the brilliant Como, 1-2. This caused the anger of Massimiliano Allegri, the coach of the Napoli team, who played only his second match as the team’s coach, succeeding Antonio Conte.
However, Inter Milan will need to win in order to take revenge on Napoli, which they beat at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium 3-1 last season, before forcing them to a 2-2 draw at home in the second round.
Inter Milan, led by its Romanian coach Christian Kefu, is armed with several stars, led by Argentine Lautaro Martinez, the team’s captain, who has not scored a goal so far, and the young star Pio Esposito, who has become the main striker in light of the absence of Frenchman Marcus Thuram due to injury.
On the other hand, Allegri relies on the experiences of the Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, who returned to participate with the team in the second half of the confrontation with Como, along with the Danish striker Rasmus Hoylund, who scored his team’s only goal in the match, and the star midfielder and one of Napoli’s best players, if not the best, in the last two seasons, the Scottish Scott McTominay.
After a disappointing first season between a long absence due to injury and disagreements with his former coach Conte, veteran playmaker De Bruyne wants to present a different face to Napoli fans, starting with the expected summit against Inter Milan.
De Bruyne (35 years old) left Manchester City in July 2025 as one of the club's legends after achieving all possible titles during ten seasons, but he has not yet left a similar imprint in Naples or in the minds of its enthusiastic fans.
The midfielder played only 23 matches and scored six goals in various competitions in the sky blue team shirt, which are not enough numbers to dazzle Napoli fans, or to obtain a special status like that achieved by McTominay, who quickly became one of Napoli's stars.
In another match that is no less important and impressive than the first, the Allianz Stadium in Turin will witness a summit confrontation between Juventus and its guest, Milan.
Both teams succeeded in achieving victory in their first two matches in the league championship, as Juventus defeated Frosinone 1-0 and Parma 2-0, while Milan succeeded in defeating Torino 2-1 and Venezia 2-0.
This match, which will be held on Sunday, will be a big test for the Portuguese Ruben Amorim, Milan coach, who is experiencing the atmosphere of big matches with Milan for the first time since taking over the job this summer.
Milan ended the summer transfer market by signing Englishman Amari Hutchinson from Nottingham Forest, and its Portuguese star Rafael Leao left for Galatasaray in Turkey for 38 million euros.
On the other hand, Juventus strengthened its ranks with German striker Nick Voltamde on loan from Newcastle, and Canadian striker Jonathan David also left on loan to Atletico Madrid.
Luciano Spalletti, Juventus coach, wants to confirm Juventus' strong start by defeating one of their classic rivals, as that victory will raise their score to nine points and keep them in the top positions awaiting the rest of the round's matches.
For its part, leaders Roma will play against its guest, Atalanta, on Saturday, in a match in which coach Gianpiero Gasperini seeks to get the three points, whatever the cost, against his former team.
Roma succeeded in defeating Fiorentina and Lecce with four clean goals in the first and second rounds, confirming its strong start this season, with the signing of many players such as Argentine defender Nahuel Molina and the young Argentine striker Santiago Castro, coming from Bologna, and other stars.
Dutchman Donnel Malen, the team's striker, wrote his name in letters of light on the team's path in the first two matches, as he scored three goals (hat-tricks) in the first match against Fiorentina, before scoring two goals against Lecce in the second round.
In the rest of the round’s matches, Genoa will play with Como, Fiorentina with Torino, Parma with Monza, Frosinone with Venezia, Bologna with Sassuolo, Cagliari with Lecce, and Udinese with Lazio.
Manchester United coach Michael Carrick expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the competing club in the English Premier League during the transfer period and with the team’s lineup, even though his spending was less than the competing clubs.
United reportedly spent 155 million pounds ($209.23 million) to sign midfielders Andre Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Paleba, and also included goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer.
However, the club has not signed a left-back or striker, despite reports that the club is looking to strengthen both positions, to provide alternatives to both Luke Shaw and Benjamin Sisko.
Carrick told reporters, on Friday, before his team visited Everton on Sunday: “We entered the transfer period and we want to emerge from it stronger than we were last season. We strengthened our lineup, and we did a good job. The situation is what it is financially and in terms of the resources available to us. “I am very happy with the players we signed, and I am completely satisfied with the quality and level we have reached.”
Reports stated that Manchester United's net spending exceeded just over 100 million pounds ($134.99 million) during the summer transfer period, while the main competing clubs, including Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, spent larger sums on new signings.
Carrick also refused to suggest that the club was operating under restrictions, instead stressing the importance of making the most of available resources.
He said: “I did not say ‘restrictions’.” It is our current situation. Whatever the amount, we want to make the most of it. For what we spent, we made the most of it, without a doubt, thanks to the players we signed. “I just focus on our team and what we can do, and on making the most of what is available.”
Carrick also played down concerns about squad depth, saying each team must adapt to the resources available as they seek to achieve their long-term goals.
United had a shaky start this season, as they began their league campaign with a surprise defeat against newly promoted Hull City, before responding with a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town at Old Trafford.
Carrick said: “When you are in the process of building a team and going through a period where we are trying to reach the top, you have to take steps. We have a long way to go, and we must ensure that we continue to improve, and in the end we want to reach the position we aspire to.”
