Fernandinho will leave Manchester City: Pep Guardiola surprised

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“Will go back to Brazil”

In the past two years, Fernandinho only extended his expiring contract with Manchester City for a further season in the second half of the season. In all likelihood, it will not happen a third time: the 36-year-old confirmed on Tuesday at the press conference before the Champions League game against Atlético Madrid (Wednesday, 9:00 p.m.) that he wants to leave the club at the end of the season.

“I want to play. I will go back to Brazil for sure. I decided that together with my family, it’s the most important thing for me,” said Fernandinho, who has been with the Skyblues since 2013. With 373 appearances, the current City captain is third in the list of record players behind David Silva (436 games) and Sergio Agüero (390).

In the past two years, however, the Brazilian had increasingly lost his sporting influence under Pep Guardiola. In 2019/20 he was still on the pitch for almost 2,400 minutes in the Premier League, it was only around 1,200 minutes last season and 600 minutes so far this season.

Fernandinho justified this not only with his age but also with Guardiola’s change of position from defensive midfield to central defender. “It was a bit difficult for me, I lost my regular place and after that it was hard to come back,” said the right-footer, who came from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 for 40 million euros – at that time the second most expensive purchase in the club’s history.

Sané vor Silva: Manchester City’s most expensive purchases

21 – Edin Dzeko – 2010/11 for €37m from VfL Wolfsburg

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Status of data: season 21/22

19 – Ederson – 2017&18 for €40m from Benfica

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19 – Fernandinho – 2013/14 for €40m from Shakhtar Donetsk

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18 – Sergio Aguero – 2011/12 for €40m from Atlético Madrid

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17 – Robinho – 2008/09 for €43m from Real Madrid

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16 – Nicolás Otamendi – 2015/16 for €44.5m from Valencia

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15 – Eliaquim Mangala – 2014/15 for €45m from FC Porto

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14 – Nathan Aké – 2020/21 for €45.3m from AFC Bournemouth

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13 – Bernardo Silva – 2017/18 for €50m from AS Monaco

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12 – Leroy Sané – 2016/17 for €52m from FC Schalke 04

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11 – Kyle Walker – 2017/18 for €52.7m from Tottenham Hotspur

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10 – John Stones – 2016/17 for €55.6m from Everton

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9 – Benjamin Mendy – 2017/18 for €57.5m from AS Monaco

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8 – Rodri – 2019/20 for €62.7m from Atlético Madrid

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7 – Raheem Sterling – 2015/16 for €63.7m from Liverpool

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5 – Aymeric Laporte – 2017/18 for €65m from Athletic Bilbao

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5 – João Cancelo – 2019/20 for €65m from Juventus

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4 – Riyad Mahrez – 2018/19 for €67.8m from Leicester City

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3 – Rúben Dias – 2020/21 for €68m from Benfica

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2 – Kevin De Bruyne – 2015/16 for €76m from VfL Wolfsburg

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1 – Jack Grealish – 2021/22 for €117.5m from Aston Villa

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Guardiola was unaware of Fernandinho’s departure from Manchester City

The fact that his impending departure was not announced via the club’s official channels, but rather when asked at a press conference, was probably also due to the fact that Fernandinho made this decision only recently. This underscores Guardiola’s reaction, who then sat down on the podium, was spoken to and reacted with surprise. “Oh, I didn’t know that. We’ll see what will happen at the end of the season. Fernandinho is an important player who always has a very good attitude. I’ll talk to him,” said the Spaniard.

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