Benfica president, Rui Costa on Ezno Fernández’s Chelsea transfer:

Everything was done so it wouldn’t happen. I’m sad to have lost the player, but I’m a clear conscience that I’ve done the best for Benfica. Enzo showed no desire to stay at Benfica.

“We feared that someone would hit the clause. We tried to captivate the player to get a pay rise, but Enzo’s offer of Chelsea was unfeasible for us.

“From the moment Enzo realized he had the value of the clause, it was uncompromising. We insisted, but the player did not even show openness to continue at Benfica.

“I proposed to Chelsea that he stay until the summer for a lower sale value. The player, even so, did not want to continue at Benfica. And this is where everything changed.

“A player who, even with the possibility of not losing a euro and with a secure Chelsea contract, does not want to continue, could never stay at Benfica. This player could no longer enter the locker room.

“I had the hope that Enzo would want to fight for the championship title with us. When I realised that he didn’t want to, I also didn’t want him to wear the Benfica shirt again.

“At Benfica, and this also applies to training, only players who are proud to wear the Benfica jersey.”