Even though Fernandinho turned 35 years old last month, the Brazilian still doesn’t look close to retirement.
With 32 appearances this season, he’s started most of Manchester City’s games so far, captaining Pep Guardiola’s side in many of them.
It’s pretty clear he still has a few years left in his career, and apparently, he wants to take the chance to still play in his home country .
In an interview with Gazeta do Povo, Fernandinho talked about his plans of returning to his former club Athletico Paranaense, claiming he doesn’t want to wait long before making the move.
“I hope it doesn’t take too long to happen, right? Because time goes by, our body changes too, so it gets a little complicated,” Fernandinho told Gazeta do Povo.
“I have another year of contract here, I will fulfil it, then we will sit down and talk to see what will happen in the future.”
He also claims he knows he’d have to take a big pay-cut in order to return to Athetico.
“I think we have to be realistic and know the reality of Brazilian clubs in relation to European clubs. Obviously, in a possible return to Brazil, I will have to consider all this too. Not only financial change, but family change, children to adapt to a new lifestyle. Without a doubt at the right time we will sit and talk and after the talks, make a decision.”
Fernandinho was only 20 years old when he left Brazil to move to Ukraine, so he didn’t get big chances to play in South America.
He was signed by Manchester City in a €40m deal from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, and already has 305 appearances for the Premier League side
