Fernandinho's future plans revealed
Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has confirmed he has ambitions to return to Brazil to finish his playing career with former club Athletico Paranaense.
The 35-year-old signed a new one-year contract extension in January which will keep him at the Etihad until the summer of 2021.
However, Fernandinho told Brazilian outlet Gazeta do Povo that he hopes to move back to Brazil before too long.
He said: “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.”
“I have another year of contract here, I will fulfil it, we will sit down and talk to see what will happen in the future.”
Fernandinho joined City from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 and has become a key player during manager Pep Guardiola’s time at the club.
Stones’ absence a concern for defender
City boss Pep Guardiola named a 20-man squad to take on Arsenal, but one man was notable by his absence.
England international John Stones did not even make the subs’ bench, even though the number of players allowed has increased from seven to nine.
And that has to be a concern, says MEN Sport’s Stuart Brennan.
“There could be an innocent explanation, such as fitness issues after a difficult three-month lay-off, but if there is one, no-one was offering it up as a reason for Stones’ absence,” he writes.
Youngster Eric Garcia has moved ahead of him in the pecking order and, while that may only be a temporary state of affairs, the Spaniard clearly has Guardiola’s confidence.
Even though Garcia is expected to miss Monday’s game with Burnley after being involved in a sickening collision against Arsenal, Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho are likely to step in, and not Stones.
Foden confident over game time
Phil Foden produced an impressive 25-minute cameo in Wednesday’s 3-0 win against Arsenal, scoring the final goal.
And the City starlet believes he will get more chances which will land him an England place before the season finishes.
It was Foden’s first game since England boss Gareth Southgate underlined his need to play more regularly for his club if he is to get that call to the senior national squad.
“You could see there was a lot of changes and I think that’s going to be the way forward for the next couple of games,” Foden said.
