Vitinha and Enzo, the brains of PSG and Chelsea in the World Cup and Madrid's forbidden dreams.

Vitinha and Enzo Fernández have lived parallel paths to become two of the best midfielders on the planet. Born in 2000 and 2001, the 25-year-old Portuguese and the 24-year -old Argentine are the brains behind PSG and Chelsea , who today meet in the Club World Cup final. They arrive at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey , mature both mentally and physically, established among the elite and with the eyes of the entire continent on their feet, including those of Real Madrid , whose list of almost forbidden dreams includes both.

The lives of these midfielders changed completely in the summer of 2022. Vitinha, who had stood out for a few months at Porto after an unsuccessful loan spell at Wolverhampton , signed with PSG for 41 million euros . Enzo, meanwhile, left River Plate and signed for Benfica at the same time. In his case, 10 million plus eight in variables that fell short when he exploded with the Argentine national team at the World Cup in Qatar .

Fernández became the beacon of the Albiceleste since his debut, playing seven matches and being key to their tournament victory. From then on, all of Europe was after him. The auction, which also included Real Madrid, ended when Chelsea put his €121 million buyout clause on the table. It was January 2023, just six months after his arrival at Benfica, and the Lisbon club lined their pockets with over €100 million in profit for him. A bargain.

The Blues were clear about it from the start, and despite the Argentine being keen on Madrid, the British side's financial offer was far superior. Furthermore, he was set to become captain at Stamford Bridge, and Kroos and Modric were still making their final moves at the Santiago Bernabéu, while the Whites' board was finalizing negotiations for Jude Bellingham , ultimately chosen as the midfielder to invest in that season.

Now, with Kroos retired and Modric out of the club, Madrid, and especially Xabi Alonso, are insisting on finding a brain for their midfield. They're banking on Tchouaméni, Camavinga, and Fede Valverde , but they've been scouring the market for weeks to find a technically gifted midfielder with vision who can lead the team's play.

Madrid's options

Stiller from Stuttgart was mentioned, but at Chamartín they know that would be a supporting bet, not an undisputed player. It would work, but Real Madrid always go for higher-ranking players. The biggest game would be a profile like Enzo or Vitinha, and there are few of those on the market. Rodri at City, Mac Allister at Liverpool, Barella at Inter ... The dominant teams of recent years have precise central midfielders in their ranks. That's what Madrid is looking for, having built their success of the last decade on the shoulders of Kroos and Modric. The idea remains the same.

But in today's market, aspiring to snatch such a player from PSG, Chelsea, Liverpool, or Manchester City is a near-impossible dream. Enzo Fernández has a contract until 2032 and is the Blues' captain after a sensational season, in which he scored seven goals and provided 13 assists.

Meanwhile, Vitinha has taken a step forward since Luis Enrique's arrival at PSG. In his first year in Paris, he played alongside Ramos, Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé , and gradually grew until he took over the full command of the midfield last season.

The man who lost the U-19 European Championship final against Spain and the U-21 European Championship final against Germany in 2019 and 2021, a star for both the Portuguese national team and the tournament, is now, many consider the best central midfielder in the world. He's the only player with over 95% accuracy in vertical passes and accelerations between the lines. He can break the opposition's press with and without the ball, a key factor for Luis Enrique.

" I don't see a better player in his position on any team in the world . He's perfect for me. He never loses the ball, he moves between the lines, he breaks away... He's unique. Strong physically and with an impressive mentality," the coach said recently in the United States.

In the case of Vitinha, represented by Jorge Mendes , his contract runs until 2029 and, since he plays in France, he has no release clause, so it's an even more impossible dream for Real Madrid than Enzo's. With Al Khelaifi on the other end of the phone, the deal isn't even a possibility at Chamartín, despite the shared affection for the Portuguese player.

Under his command, PSG is on course for its best season ever. It has won the French League, the Coupe, and the Champions League , the latter beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, and is one step away from lifting its first major Club World Cup. It's all about Vitinha, who is also a candidate for this season's Ballon d'Or, having also won the Nations League with Portugal. " He is undoubtedly an essential player in PSG's success in winning everything . Vitinha's style and effectiveness deserve the Ballon d'Or," said Roberto Martínez, the Portuguese coach. This afternoon, the World Cup is in full swing in New York.