Real Madrid have “categorically” denied any interest in Enzo Fernandez following reports linking the club with a move for the Chelsea midfielder.The 25-year-old is incoming head coach Jose Mourinho’s top choice for a summer signing, but The Athletic reported last week that club sources were playing down the likelihood of the move happening.It marks the second time this summer that Madrid have made a public denial regarding their transfer intentions, after they published a similar statement insisting the club had made no contact over a move for Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise last month.In a statement released on Friday, Madrid insisted the club “has not taken any steps, either directly or indirectly, aimed at signing the aforementioned player and, furthermore, has no intention of pursuing such a transfer”.Chelsea are expected to ask for around £120million for the midfielder, should he leave this summer despite his contract to 2032 at Stamford Bridge. The Athletic reported he is looking for a new start, and his preferred destination was Madrid.“Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost respect for Enzo Fernandez, a great footballer whose career and quality are widely known, as well as for Chelsea FC, a club with which it maintains an excellent institutional relationship,” the Spanish side said in a statement.“Precisely because of the respect that an entity like Chelsea FC deserves and because of the principles of institutional loyalty that have always governed the actions of Real Madrid, the club considers it necessary to categorically deny speculations that are unfounded and do not correspond to reality.