Moises Caicedo has opened up about a heartfelt conversation he had with his Chelsea teammate Enzo Fernandez, in which Fernandez begged him to join the Blues instead of Liverpool.

The midfielder was a highly sought-after transfer target, with Manchester United and Arsenal also expressing interest. However, Liverpool seemed to have sealed the deal with a £111 million bid accepted by Brighton.

But Caicedo shocked everyone when he rejected Liverpool's offer, determined to join Chelsea. The Blues eventually secured the Ecuadorian international with a British-record £115 million swoop, thanks in part to Fernandez's persuasive words.

A Plea from a World Champion

Fernandez, who joined Chelsea in a £107 million deal in January, personally called Caicedo to convince him of the club's greatness and ambition.

"I called and told him that he had to accept and come because Chelsea is a great and ambitious club," Fernandez revealed in an interview with Chelsea's official website. "And I have to thank God for giving me the chance to play alongside him at Chelsea because we all know the great player he is, but he is also a fantastic person, so I’m thankful he chose Chelsea."

An Irresistible Bond

Caicedo, reflecting on his conversation with Fernandez, described it as a "nice chat" and expressed his gratitude for the support he received. "I mean, the fact that a world champion was phoning you, one of the best midfielders in the world… receiving that call was very nice and he convinced me to come here," Caicedo said.

According to Caicedo, Fernandez highlighted the club's unity and the presence of talented young players as reasons to join Chelsea. The Ecuadorian international spoke of the importance of team bonding and how it motivates him to improve every day.

A New Midfield Trio

Caicedo and Fernandez, along with Conor Gallagher, have formed an exciting new midfield trio at Stamford Bridge. Their partnership comes after the departures of midfield stalwarts N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, and Jorginho in 2023.

With their shared passion for the game and strong bond on and off the pitch, Caicedo and Fernandez are looking to be a positive influence on the club and set a good example for their teammates.