Manchester City fans have reacted with overwhelming relief after Chelsea’s public deadline for an Enzo Fernandez transfer passed without the Premier League champions making the required £120 million offer.
Chelsea had reportedly set Manchester City a 5pm deadline to make the huge bid for Fernandez. If City failed to meet that figure, the midfielder would remain at Stamford Bridge for the summer.
That deadline has now passed, and the reaction from Manchester City supporters has been remarkably clear.
For many fans, this was not disappointing news.
It was something to celebrate.
The responses to the City Xtra post were filled with messages of relief, excitement and hope that Manchester City will now move on from the Fernandez speculation.
One supporter summed up the mood with just two words:
“Thank God.”
Man City fans celebrate the end of the saga
The strongest theme in the reaction was relief.
Several supporters appeared delighted that Manchester City had not completed the proposed £120m deal.
Another fan responded:
“Now let it stay that way.”
That message captures the feeling among supporters who do not want the club to return with another offer.
For these fans, the deadline passing represents an opportunity to move forward.
The Fernandez story had generated considerable discussion because of the enormous financial figure involved.
A £120m transfer would represent a major investment in a single midfielder.
While some supporters may have appreciated Fernandez’s quality, the reactions suggest that a significant section of the fanbase did not believe City needed to spend that kind of money on him.
“He stays then”
One of the simplest reactions was:
“He stays then.”
There was no frustration attached to the comment.
Instead, it appeared to be a statement of satisfaction.
The deadline was viewed as the moment that could finally bring clarity to the situation.
Chelsea’s position was straightforward. If Manchester City wanted Fernandez, they had to make a £120m offer by the stated deadline.
City did not reportedly do so.
As a result, supporters now expect Fernandez to remain at Chelsea.
For City fans who did not want the transfer, that is a positive outcome.
“Yesssss, we’re not signing that bum”
Another supporter was considerably more outspoken, celebrating the fact that Manchester City would apparently not be signing Fernandez.
The language was harsh, but it illustrates the strength of feeling among some supporters.
Not every fan believes Fernandez is a bad player. Instead, the reaction appears to be more about the transfer itself.
The reported £120m price tag is the central issue.
Manchester City have already invested heavily in their squad, and the arrival of Enzo Maresca as the new head coach means the club has plenty of decisions to make about its midfield.
For some supporters, spending £120m on Fernandez simply did not make sense.
“What a waste of time”
Another supporter described the entire situation as:
“What a waste time.”
That reaction is particularly revealing.
Transfer speculation can dominate football discussions for days or even weeks.
When a move ultimately fails to happen, fans can feel that all the attention was unnecessary.
In this case, Chelsea’s public deadline made the situation even more dramatic.
The reported ultimatum gave the story a clear finish line.
Manchester City either paid £120m or Fernandez stayed at Chelsea.
The deadline passing without the proposed bid has now seemingly ended the immediate uncertainty.
Fans want Chelsea to keep their word
One of the more interesting comments came from a supporter who wrote:
“Need them to keep their word.”
That reaction shows that some fans remain cautious.
Supporters may be celebrating the deadline passing, but they also want the situation to remain settled.
The concern is obvious.
Transfer windows can produce unexpected developments.
A deadline can pass, yet circumstances can change if clubs reopen negotiations or find alternative arrangements.
Therefore, the fan reaction is not simply about Manchester City failing to make a bid.
It is also about hoping Chelsea’s stated position remains firm.
“Their Honda is safe”
Another supporter jokingly wrote:
“Their honda is safe.”
The playful comment added some humour to the reaction.
The wider message, however, was clear: Manchester City supporters were celebrating the fact that Chelsea would apparently keep Fernandez.
The tone across the replies was much closer to relief than disappointment.
That is significant because big-name transfer rumours usually create excitement among supporters.
This time, the opposite happened.
Why fans rejected the £120m price
The reported £120m valuation is the biggest reason behind the negative reaction.
Manchester City supporters know that the club has the financial power to make major investments.
But financial power does not mean every expensive transfer represents good business.
Fernandez would have commanded a massive fee.
There would also be wages, contract costs and the opportunity cost of spending such a large amount on one player.
For supporters who believe City have other areas to address, £120m could be better invested elsewhere.
That is likely why the deadline passing produced such a positive reaction.
A new era under Enzo Maresca
The situation is also taking place during an important period for Manchester City.
Enzo Maresca succeeded Pep Guardiola as head coach in June 2026.
The new manager now has the task of establishing his own team and deciding which players fit his tactical plans.
That does not necessarily mean Fernandez was unsuitable.
However, a £120m signing would have been a major statement.
It would also have placed enormous expectations on the midfielder.
City supporters appear to believe that Maresca can improve the team without necessarily requiring such a massive investment in Fernandez.
The reaction shows what supporters want
The responses to City Xtra’s post reveal a clear preference among many fans.
They want Manchester City to be selective.
They do not want the club to spend huge amounts simply because a high-profile player becomes available.
The repeated messages of “Thank God”, “He stays then” and “Now let it stay that way” demonstrate the strength of that opinion.
There is also an element of trust in Manchester City’s recruitment strategy.
The club has experience identifying players who can fit its footballing structure.
Supporters therefore appear willing to see what Maresca and the recruitment team can do with the squad already available.
Not everyone will agree
Of course, the reaction on social media should not be interpreted as representing every Manchester City supporter.
Some fans may have wanted Fernandez at the Etihad.
Others may still believe he would have improved the squad.
There are also supporters who could argue that £120m is simply the cost of acquiring an elite midfielder in the current transfer market.
However, the specific reactions provided to the City Xtra post lean overwhelmingly towards relief.
That is the important takeaway.
The supporters commenting on the post were not mourning a missed opportunity.
They were celebrating it.
City can now focus elsewhere
With the public deadline having passed, Manchester City can turn their attention to other transfer priorities.
The club does not have to force a deal simply because Chelsea established a deadline.
That could actually strengthen City’s position in the rest of the transfer window.
The recruitment team can assess the market, identify alternatives and decide where the squad needs improvement.
For Maresca, that could be particularly valuable.
He can focus on the players available to him rather than having the squad shaped around a single £120m transfer.
“Get in” – the mood says it all
One supporter responded simply:
“Get in.”
Another posted:
“SIUUUUUUUUUUU.”
Those reactions may be short, but they communicate plenty.
There was genuine excitement that the transfer had apparently not happened.
For many Manchester City fans, the passing of the Enzo Fernandez deadline felt like a victory rather than a setback.
The club had been given a huge financial ultimatum.
It did not reportedly meet it.
Now supporters want the situation to remain that way.
Man City fans want the club to move forward
Ultimately, the reaction to the Enzo Fernandez deadline is less about attacking the player and more about Manchester City’s transfer strategy.
A £120m deal would have been enormous.
The club has decided, at least based on the reported deadline passing without the required bid, not to take that step.
Many supporters are delighted.
The repeated messages of relief show that fans would rather see City move forward with a different plan than spend £120m on Fernandez.
For the new Maresca era, that could prove significant.
The new head coach now has the chance to build his Manchester City team without the pressure of one of the biggest transfers in the club’s history.
For supporters, the message is simple.
The deadline has passed.
Fernandez appears set to remain at Chelsea.
And judging by the reaction to the City Xtra post, plenty of Manchester City fans are perfectly happy with that outcome.
“Thank God.”
For this particular group of City supporters, those two words perhaps say everything.
