The 36-year-old Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho is the most decorated Brazilian in the history of English football. A huge piece of such statistic is the fact that the man is a member of Manchester City who collect pretty much a trophy a year on average. Cityzens’ dominance has been a trademark of the English top tier for a decade now and the combination of Pep Guardiola’s management, huge playing staff quality and almost undrainable financial support of the executive board and the ownership has marked the latest 15 years of the blue side of Manchester.A big piece of the Man City puzzle since 2013 is Fernandinho. The South American imposed himself as a midfield holding force and was an enormous asset for Guardiola and those before him. However, as Fernandinho announced himself – his stay at Etihad is coming to an end.Current Cityzens’ captain has stated that he is leaving Manchester City at the end of the ongoing campaign. But what makes it even more interesting is that Guardiola did not know of the skipper’s decision.Wed 22:00: (5.00) Atl.Madrid (3.50) Man.City (1.85)Fernandinho decided to see out the remainder of his career in South America.’I want to play. I will go back to Brazil. I decided with my family, which is the most important thing for me,’ he said. ‘Some people in the club know it.’This term, Fernandinho has played just 13 times in the top-flight and he has just three months left on his deal, having penned fresh terms for one more season last year. In five of those thirteen he was in the starting line-up and was wearing the captain’s armband as he still remains a crucial leadership figure for boss Guardiola as City fight for trophies on multiple fronts.With over 250 games to his name, Fernandinho was won four Premier League trophies, an FA Cup and six League Cups. ‘You give me the news. I didn’t know,’ Guardiola said when the press gave him the information at a conference.’But I can understand. I want my players to be happy. We are going to play tomorrow for him and give him the best farewell moment to reach the semi-final of the Champions League.’The role he plays this season – I like the people who behave behind the scenes. I know what he has done, behind me, he handles many of our players and stars for the benefit of the team.’##EDITORS_CHOICE##Guardiola said he plans to speak with him at the end of the season – and labelled him ‘incredible’. ‘End of the season we will talk. Maybe it is a family decision, I don’t know. This kind of the situation is to talk end of the season.’ the Catalan manager added.’I have said many times this season I like the types of people where they behave for the benefit of those behind the scenes. He doesn’t need it (credit). ‘I know what he has done behind me. ‘When I arrived he was here with Raheem [Sterling], Kevin [De Bruyne] and Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan] I think, John [Stones], a few players. ‘He’s been an incredible football player for Man City. There are things that nobody knows but I know exactly what he does.’I was 100% honest and spontaneous in answering that question at today’s press conference. But anyone who knows me also knows that my greatest honesty is with Man City and my duties as team captain.— Fernandinho (@fernandinho) April 12, 2022 In the 2019-20 campaign Fernandinho was moved further back to helping City out by playing as a central defender and that is what he sees as one of the reasons he fell down the pecking order in the midfield.’When I changed position it could be a reason I lost my place and I couldn’t recover. I tried to help the team.’ The Brazilian has seemingly made up his mind on leaving Europe but until he departs – he insists his focus is on his current club and his role as captain and said he will only address his future at the end of the season.’I was 100% honest and spontaneous in answering that question at today’s press conference,’ he posted on Twitter. ‘But anyone who knows me also knows that my greatest honesty is with Man City and my duties as team captain.”My focus is 100% on winning all the titles we are playing for and I will only talk about my future at the end of the season. Let’s keep pushing!’.Fernandinho signed from Shakhtar Donetsk nine years ago and was one of the background heroes of Man City’s recent successes.
