The midfielder Fernandinho, former captain of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, is the new reinforcement of Athletico Paranaense, announced on Monday the ‘Furacão’.
“With great satisfaction I return home (…) Knowing that everything I have achieved in these 17 years playing in Europe, I can try to bring a little bit to apply here,” said the midfielder during his presentation in Curitiba.
The midfielder, 37, signed a contract with the club until December 2024. After the end of his contract with Manchester City, Fernandinho returns free of charge to Athletico, the club where he made his professional debut in 2003.
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In 2005, he moved to Shakhtar Donetsk, where he was six times Ukrainian champion, until he joined City in 2013. Fernandinho also played in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups for the Brazilian national team.
Although Guardiola has publicly expressed his desire to continue having the midfielder in the ‘Citizens’ squad, he has decided to return to Brazil so that his children can see him on the pitch for the team of their hearts.
Fernandinho will only be able to make his debut for Athletico as of July 18, when the window for new players opens.
