Not Palmer or Caicedo - Ramires names Chelsea best player

Former Chelsea midfield dynamo, Ramires, has lauded Enzo Fernandez has Chelsea’s best player.

The Brazilian, a fan favourite during his Stamford Bridge days, sees a reflection of his own tenacious and goal-scoring style in the Argentine World Cup winner, despite the recent heroics of other Chelsea talents.

Chelsea, under the tactical guidance of Enzo Maresca, recently clinched the Club World Cup.

The final saw a dominant 3-0 victory over French giants Paris Saint-Germain, with young sensation Cole Palmer and new signing Joao Pedro finding the back of the net.

Pedro, in particular, has hit the ground running with three goals in the US, quickly endearing himself to the Chelsea faithful.

However, in an exclusive interview with X user Darko_Baba, Ramires made it clear that neither Palmer, nor the robust Moises Caicedo, are currently his standout player in Maresca's impressive squad.

Instead, his admiration lies firmly with Enzo Fernandez.

He said, "The current team has a lot of talent, but I really like Enzo Fernandez. Perhaps because I see in him a style similar to mine, with grit, strong tackling, and arriving in attack."

Ramires, known for his relentless energy, fierce tackles, and timely bursts into the opposition box, a trait often seen in Caicedo  but the Brazilian believes Fernandez embodies this multifaceted midfield approach.

He was a player who diligently performed the "dirty work" but also possessed the uncanny ability to score crucial goals, a characteristic Enzo Fernandez has increasingly displayed.

The Brazilian legend further extolled Fernandez's qualities, emphasising his potential to be a long-term fixture at Stamford Bridge.

"He's a young player, but with personality, game vision, and a lot of technical quality. He has everything to continue being a reference in Chelsea’s midfield for many years,” he added.