Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is expected to be named as the club's vice-captain according to reports.
Fernandez angered a number of his teammates earlier this summer when he went live on Instagram to sing a racist and homophobic rant about French footballers and his Argentina teammates after their Copa America success.
Chelsea have since dealt with the matter and deemed it closed internally, although FIFA are thought to be still investigating the video and Fernandez could end up banned.
Fernandez is expected to be appointed as Chelsea's vice-captain
The player who won the World Cup was given the captain's armband by Reece James in the second half of their 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid on Tuesday.
After the match, Enzo Maresca described the midfielder as an important player and said he was a respected member of the team.
“He is one of the most important players,” the 44-year-old told the media.
“To be honest, I think when we replaced Reece, he gave Enzo a 'bracelet' and it shows how much respect Enzo has in the team. I think it's very clear.”
The Times newspaper reported that the Argentinian player is expected to be appointed as Chelsea's vice-captain even though he has only been in the club for 18 months.
Ben Chilwell was the team's vice-captain last season, but this news will suggest that Maresca will have several vice-captains.
Fernandez arrived at Chelsea from Portuguese giants Benfica in January 2023 for a then British record transfer fee of £106.8m.
The 23-year-old played under a pain barrier last season, but missed the final six games of the season to undergo surgery on a hernia that had been causing him problems.
It's a big season for Fernandez, who is likely to be handed a key role in the middle of the park, and his partnership with Moises Caicedo will undoubtedly be key to Chelsea's Champions League chances.
The Blues have their final pre-season game against Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge on Sunday before kicking off the season at home to Manchester City on August 18.
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