EXCLUSIVE
Enzo Maresca has played down the situation with Enzo Fernandez as the Chelsea boss prepares for his first-team return.
Fernandez sparked fury last week when he shared a video of he and some of his Argentina teammates singing a racist and discriminatory chant after their Copa America victory.
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His Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana slammed the song, which references how many French players have African heritage, and called it 'uninhibited racism', with the club announcing an investigation.
Other players also unfollowed him on Instagram, with Fernandez then issuing an apology and ahead of his return for pre-season, Blues boss Maresca addressed how he believes it will pan out.
When asked if he think there will be any problems bringing him into the squad, he replied: "I don't think so to be honest. At the end, they are all human beings, I don't think there is any bad intentions from any one of them.
"So I don't think when Enzo will be back that we we'll have any kind of problem. As I said, the player already clarified the situation, the club did the same so there's nothing to add. Once again, I think they are not bad persons or bad human beings.
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"It can happen but I don't think there's any problem at all. I spoke with Enzo, I spoke with all of them but as I said, the player already did a statement, apologised, so it's quite clear."
But former West Ham coach Kevin Nolan believes Maresca has downplayed things but feels his pain given he is only a month into his new role.
Speaking on the talkSPORT Breakfast show, he said: "The first massive job you've got, you've just moved from Leicester, you're going into your team, you're trying to get them all cohesive and together, and you've got to deal with this problem.
"No matter what he's said, he's played it down. That's what he's got to try and do so that he can deal with it in-house and I think that's what's going to have to happen.
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"You know yourself, being part of dressing rooms when things like that happen, there's going to be a lot of lads who are upset about what's been said.
"There's going to be some lads that sort of give him the benefit of the doubt and there's going to be lads who are going to go, 'Well actually, he's made a mistake.' But then, how do you get all them coming together in that unity... there's going to be probably some meetings going on.
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"I would suggest they need to sit down as players first and foremost to see where they all stand when he actually walks in the dressing room. And then secondly when he actually walks in the dressing room, whether he's going to be accepted to be able to give that apology because there's got to be sincerity in the apology.
"It can't just be a statement on Instagram or X. It can't be that, it's got to be the sincerity of someone sitting there in front of you saying, 'Look, I made an absolute howler and I'm sorry.'"
It remains unclear as to exactly when Fernandez will return to the Chelsea squad, who have flown to the United States for their pre-season tour.
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The Blues will face a variety of opponents as they approach the beginning of the new Premier League season, with Wrexham their first test on Thursday morning UK time.
Celtic, Club America, Manchester City and Real Madrid are their following opponents stateside before Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge to host Inter Milan in their final friendly.