The Spaniard had never heard of his future team-mate (Image: ESPN SportsCenter)

Marc Cucurella says he was completely unaware of Chelsea teammate Enzo Fernandez at the start of the World Cup and had to google him after being impressed by his performance for Argentina.

The 22-year-old had not yet started for his country for the Qatar tournament and was benched in the team’s surprise opening defeat to Saudi Arabia.

But he started in the next six matches and became a key player in Argentina’s World Cup victory, delivering bite and tenacity on the ball as well as composure and vision.

His performances in Qatar, coupled with his fine form for Benfica, made Fernandez the most expensive player in Premier League history as Chelsea agreed to pay £106.8 million from the deadline.

That transfer marked a truly remarkable rise for the midfielder, who had never been crowned by his country and had played for River Plate just six months earlier.

Fernandez’s meteoric rise from the Argentine league to a record Premier League win surprised even his new team-mate Cucurella, as the Spaniard had never heard of the midfielder before his World Cup breakaway.

Keen to see how his old teammate Alexis Mac Allister fared in Qatar, the former Brighton defender watched Argentina’s matches only to be blown away by Fernandez. search him.

Fernandez has shone for Chelsea since signing in January (Picture: Getty)

“I liked watching games my friends played, so I watched Argentina because of Alexis,” Cucurella told the South American edition of ESPN Sports Center.

“I think I said, ‘I really like number 24, he’s very good!’ But I didn’t even know where he was playing I had to check my phone!

“As I watched more games, I told my family and friends that I really liked him. And then he came to Chelsea!

“I told Enzo I like him at the World Cup. He’s a good guy, I’m waiting for him to cook me a barbecue.

“He’s very young, but he’s very talented with the ball and he’s intelligent. He still has to adapt, but he’s already played some good games. [signed] a good midfielder.’

Fernandez has become an instant fan favorite at Chelsea. He dictates the pace and rhythm of matches with his wide range of passes and is a powerful all-in-action presence even when off the ball.