Manchester City’s next few games will be memorable. Not just because they are on the verge of winning the Premier League again, but also because Fernandinho’s time at the club is coming to an end.
The Brazilian, who is regarded as a club icon by supporters, has already chosen to return to Brazil. It marks the conclusion of a successful and significant cycle for the English side, who have progressed significantly since Fernandinho was recruited.
Fernandinho returns to Brazil in July
Fernandinho’s career at Manchester will come to an end at 37. He has previously said that he aspires to return to Brazilian football once his contract expires in June. The major motivation is to keep his career going after losing momentum in previous years.
Athletico will be his last destination. Mario Celso Petraglia, the president, inked a deal with the player in March, before he declared his decision to leave Europe. In 2021, he was rumoured to be a prospective reinforcement for Atlético-MG.
Fernandinho was born in Londrina and started his career as a defender with Furaco between 2002 and 2005. During this time, he won the Copa Paraná. In addition to the Brasileirão, the Paraná squad is competing in the Copa do Brasil and Libertadores.
The decision took Guardiola “by surprise”
Pep Guardiola was dissatisfied with the decision. During the press conference before City’s Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, Fernandinho confirmed his departure from the club. The manager was taken aback by the announcement.
Fernandinho joined Manchester City in 2016 and quickly established himself as the Spaniard’s go-to guy. Guardiola emphasized the Brazilian’s value to the squad and has heaped praise on him in multiple interviews. He described himself as “an outstanding player, wonderful for the squad” in 2019.
Rodri is the team’s foremost midfielder in terms of tactics, but replacing Fernandinho’s leadership will be difficult.
Nine successful years in English football
Fernandinho was signed by Manchester City in 2013, when Manuel Pellegrini was the coach, after a lengthy tenure at Shakhtar Donetsk. Fans in Ukraine named him the greatest Brazilian in the club’s history.
Because shirt 7 was owned by James Milner, the player chose to go with number 25.
Since then, the midfielder has gained the confidence of the audience and has established himself as one of the team’s reliable names. With the Citizens jersey on, 381 games have been played and 10 titles have been won. The Champions did not arrive, but four Premier League championships have been secured, with a fifth title on the verge of being won.
Fernandinho is an extra-field leader and a reference for Brazilians who play in England, in addition to the Etihad Stadium. At Liverpool, for example, the opposition midfielder is referred to as “our captain.”
It’s a show of admiration for the 37-year-old, who has represented Brazil at two World Cups and is Pep Guardiola’s go-to guy.
Fernandinho is considered a legend by City fans
In reality, with the departure of David Silva, the midfielder was picked as the captain of Manchester City in 2020. He was already a natural leader on the field even without the armband.
Fans of the English squad have also shown their approval. He got countless messages on social media after announcing his decision to leave Manchester City. Fans used words like “legend” and “brilliant.”
Other players on the team’s greatest player lists include Vincent Kompany, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero. The Brazilian, on the other hand, deserves to be included among the greats, owing to his role in the previous decade and his extended tenure at City.
Fernandinho made history in the Premier League
Fernandinho is regarded as one of the Premier League’s most influential Brazilians. FourFourTwo magazine, one of the most prestigious in the sport, just ranked him the third greatest South American in league history.
He is the best Brazilian on the list, by the way. Only Luis Suarez, who created history at Liverpool, and Sergio Aguero, a former colleague and one of City’s finest players, are ahead of Fernandinho.
Manchester City recently erected a monument of the Argentine striker to honour the club’s first Premier League trophy, which was won ten years ago. Given his achievements, it’s not unreasonable to believe that Fernandinho will be honoured by the club as well.
