Chelsea and Benfica chiefs almost got into a physical confrontation over the future of Enzo Fernandez according to stunning reports in Portugal.
The Argentine World Cup winner made the switch to Stamford Bridge for an eye-watering British record fee worth £107m.
Both sides had been locked deep in talks since the World Cup, with Chelsea impressed by the 22-year-old's performances in Qatar.
Portuguese publication Report have revealed the heavy tension there was between the two camps when they met to speak about Fernandez, and how Benfica had pushed for Mateo Kovacic to be included in a swap deal.
It's also said that Fernandez - eager to move to the Premier League side - threatened to publish a video ripping into Benfica's management.
The report claims that Chelsea's interest took Benfica president Rui Costa to London, where discussions were held on January 3 in a meeting where Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes were both present.
That's when the clubs came to heads, with reports that chiefs of both sides were close to physical confrontation;
Costa left the room in fury after Chelsea's dropped their original proposal of £107m to £80m with players to be offered in return.
Several were proposed included Jorginho - who ended up going to Arsenal for £12m - though Benfica requested Kovacic.
The 28-year-old Croatian was put on the table though his salary - around £5m-per-year - made that possibility impossible.
It was then where Chelsea returned with a £107m move to Benfica which was completed on deadline day. Though they could have signed him at the end of the season for £89m according to Costa.
Costa is said to have given the green light to the move, while Benfica's 3-0 victory against Arouca on deadline day was in progress.
Fernandez, worried that the move wouldn't go through, threatened to record a video to post on social media with accusations against Benfica's structure.
Fernandez is believed to have wanted a move since the World Cup, and defied his club by flying back to Argentina to celebrate the New Year as he pushed for a move to England.
Benfica manager Roger Schmidt had claimed no deal would take place in mid-January, but Chelsea came back in for the midfielder after giving up in their pursuit of Brighton's Moises Caicedo and deciding they would pay Fernandez's full release clause.
Costa explained how unwilling he was to keep an unmotivated player at Benfica, and showed little remorse for Fernandez' exit.
He added: 'At that point I said, 'He can't play for Benfica anymore, no way,' he said. 'I don't cry for players who don't want to wear our shirt.
'I had the hope that Enzo would want to fight for the championship title with us. When I realised that he didn't want to, I also didn't want him to wear the Benfica shirt again.
'A player who even with the possibility of not losing a Euro and with a secure Chelsea contract, does not want to continue, could never stay at Benfica. This player could no longer enter the locker room.'
Fernandez, who travelled to London on Wednesday, left a message of thanks to the players, coach and management on social media in which he said: 'I will carry them forever in my heart.'
