We have Manchester City summer transfer window news on this UEFA Champions League preview Tuesday. Selected as the player representative for the press conference previewing tomorrow’s UCL clash at Atletico Madrid, Fernandinho candidly answered a question about his future, indicating that he won’t be renewing his contact at the end of the year.
Later, it was manager Pep Guardiola’s turn to take the microphone. When he did, Pep was asked about the Brazilian’s imminent departure, and it was obviously all news to him.
“Oh, I didn’t know” ?
Pep Guardiola had no idea Fernandinho was planning to leave Manchester City at the end of the season ?? pic.twitter.com/vQSrn7xG6K
— Manchester City News (@ManCityMEN) April 12, 2022
Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid UCL Quarterfinal Leg 2/2 FYIs
When is it? Wednesday, April 13, 2022, 8 PM Local Time, City leads on aggregate 1-0
Where is it? Wanda Metropolitano
Manchester City Preview Material: Team News Starting XI Prediction
Who’s in form? Manchester City (WWDDWWD) Atletico Madrid (WWWWWLL)
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Said Pep Guardiola on Fernandinho: “I want him to be happy. We play tomorrow for him. Give him the best farewell moment reaching the Champions League semi-finals, after try to go through. I understand, play with happiness, if he wants to play it’s understandable…”
The defensive midfielder, who sometimes fills in at central defender, whenever an injury crisis arises there, then took to Twitter, to make a public statement about his imminent exit from The Eithad.
“I was 100% honest and spontaneous in answering that question at today’s press conference,” Fernadinho wrote.
“But anyone who knows me also knows that my greatest honesty is with Man City and my duties as team captain.”
Fernandinho, who has been with the club since 2013, has scored 19 goals across 258 appearances with the Cityzens.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.