Fernandinho surprises Pep Guardiola by calling time on City career
The 36-year-old City captain, who joined from Shakhtar Donetsk for £30 million in 2013, wants to return to his homeland in order to play more regularly
Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho surprised Pep Guardiola by announcing that his nine-year stint at Manchester City will come to an end this summer when he plans to return to Brazil.
The 36-year-old City captain, who joined from Shakhtar Donetsk for £30 million in 2013, wants to return to his homeland in order to play more regularly.
The midfielder has started 11 matches this season, only six of which have been in the Premier League.
When asked whether he would extend his contract, which expires at the end of June, Fernandinho said: “I don’t think so. I want to play. I will go back to Brazil. I decided with my family, which is the most important thing for me.”
Fernandinho said that “some” people at City knew before Tuesday that he was leaving, but it appeared that Guardiola was not one of them.
The City manager was informed by a journalist at his pre-match press conference that Fernandinho had stated his desire to leave in the same room just a few minutes earlier.
“I didn’t know it,” Guardiola, 51, said. “You gave me the news. It is a surprise to me. Fernandinho, I said many times, is very important to me. We will see what happens. I will talk to him at the end of the season.
“Maybe it is a family decision, maybe he wants more minutes. I don’t know, I will speak to him of course.”
Fernandinho would be open to moving back to Athletico Paranaense, where he began his career.
The Brazil international became City’s captain at the start of the 2020-21 season after the departure of David Silva. He is an influential member of the squad off the pitch and is well-liked by his teammates and staff alike.
However, it has become apparent in recent months that he he is unhappy about his lack of game time.
Fernandinho has played 373 times for City in total. He will leave the club with at least four Premier League winner’s medals, and has also won the Carabao Cup six times and the FA Cup once.
The only trophy he is yet to win is the Champions League. Ahead of the second leg of City’s quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid, Guardiola vowed to try to win the competition for his captain.
“We are going to play tomorrow for him and give him the best farewell moment, reaching again the semi-finals of the Champions League and try to go through again [to the final],” Guardiola said.“I understand the players want to play, it is completely understandable.”
