Enzo Maresca, the manager of Manchester City, confirmed that the club had paid £125 million for Enzo Fernández, a 25-year-old Argentine midfielder. This move reunites Fernández with Maresca, who previously managed him at Chelsea. Fernández had been a key player during Argentina’s run to the World Cup final, where they lost to Spain. The transfer was completed on deadline day, with Maresca expressing confidence in Fernández’s abilities, even as some questioned his attitude and performance quality. Fernández made his debut for Manchester City in a match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. This came after City had secured wins against Coventry and Porto. However, the team struggled in the middle of the pitch, often being outmaneuvered by United. Fernández was expected to bring intensity, especially with other central midfielders like Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo on the field. The challenge for City increased when Phil Foden was substituted, reducing their numbers. Fernández was then asked to play the roles of two players after Rayan Cherki was moved to the right flank. Fernández covered over 10.25 kilometers during the match, matching Elliot Anderson’s per-minute distance. While Anderson covered more ground overall, Fernández was the most active in terms of sprints, making 10, which was twice as many as any other central midfielder. He also won the most duels, eight in total, and intercepted the ball more than any other player in the middle. Despite United having more possession, they struggled to build play in central areas, partly due to Fernández’s efforts. Fernández was substituted in the 82nd minute and faced some negative reactions from the crowd. Anderson praised the team's effort, saying they ran more and fought harder. Fernández was also involved in a moment where he was pushed by Harry Maguire after attempting to win a penalty. Although he wasn’t directly involved in the buildup to Erling Haaland’s winning goal, he was celebrated by City fans. Maresca celebrated on the touchline after the match, while Fernández joined his teammates on the pitch, receiving chants from the crowd.