Fernández says his experience alongside some of the Premier League’s biggest names has helped shape him as a player, with the Manchester City midfielder singling out several former Chelsea teammates and describing the early understanding he is building with Haaland.
In an interview with La Nación, the Argentina international reflected on the players he worked with at Chelsea before moving to City in the final days of the summer transfer window.
“Cucu [Marc Cucurella] is pure energy, on and off the pitch,” Fernández said. “Cole [Palmer] has incredible talent and a calmness when he plays that isn’t normal. N’Golo [Kanté] is one of those people who leave a mark on you with their humility, as well as having been an extraordinary player. Raheem [Sterling] has a lot of experience and has been a teammate who helped me a lot. Kai [Havertz] has enormous technical quality and understands the game very well. I’ve tried to take something from all of them.”
Fernández has quickly become an important presence in the Argentina dressing room, and he arrives at City with the experience of winning major honours at both international and club level. The move offers him a fresh challenge under a manager who knows his game and at a club determined to compete for every major trophy.
One of the most immediate connections has been with Haaland. The Norwegian was particularly enthusiastic about the transfer, joking on social media that he could finally go to sleep after City confirmed the signing late on deadline day.
Fernández said the pair had already begun working on the details that can make their partnership more effective.
“Erling is an incredible player, but he’s also a very funny and very competitive guy. On the pitch, we’re trying to get to know each other better all the time: where he wants the ball, when to attack space, when to play it quickly. With players of that quality, the better you know them, the easier it is to build partnerships,” he said.
Fernández also recognised the legacy left at City by previous Argentine players, including Sergio Agüero, Carlos Tevez, Nicolás Otamendi and Pablo Zabaleta.
“Each of them contributed something and is part of the club’s history. For any Argentine, wearing a shirt that has been worn by players of that level is a source of pride. Now it’s my turn to make my own path and contribute to the team so we can continue achieving important things.”
The midfielder knows that expectations are high at City, where competing for the Premier League and Champions League is an annual requirement.
“At a club of this size, the challenge is always to win. You know you have to compete for the Premier League, the Champions League and every tournament you play in. But you also have to build that journey throughout the season, because nothing is won in the first few months,” he said.
Fernández was also asked about the scrutiny surrounding City’s financial fair play situation. He said the players were focused on football rather than matters handled by the club’s leadership.
“These are issues the club deals with and ones we, as players, can’t do much about. We try to concentrate on training, playing and winning. Obviously, you’re aware of what’s happening, but it wouldn’t make sense to wear ourselves out over something that doesn’t depend on us.”
For Fernández, the move is an opportunity to establish a new chapter while bringing his experience and competitive drive to a team with ambitions across multiple competitions.