Fabrizio Romano gives update on Fernandinho’s next club following Man City exit

Former Manchester City captain Fernandinho has reportedly decided on his new club.

The 37-year-old departed the Etihad at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, bowing out by lifting another Premier League title.

While Pep Guardiola looks to have found his replacement for the midfielder in the form of Kalvin Phillips, little has been reported on Fernandinho’s next move.

Speaking in April, when he confirmed he would be leaving City, Fernandinho admitted he planned to return to his native Brazil.

“I want to play,” he said in a pre-match press conference. “I will go back to Brazil [next season]. I decided with my family, which is the most important thing for me.”

The ex-City skipper appears to have agreed his next move, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claiming on Sunday night that he was close to joining Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense.

“Plan confirmed for Fernandinho,” the journalist tweeted. “Former Manchester City player will join Athletico Paranaense on a free move, two year contract agreed.”

Fernandinho began his career at the Curitiba club and left in 2005 to join Shakhtar Donetsk.

He moved to City in 2013 and spent nine years at the Etihad, winning five league titles in that period as well the League Cup on five occasions and the FA Cup once, while making 383 senior appearances.

It has yet to be confirmed who will replace the former Donetsk man as City captain, with Ilkay Gundogan, Ruben Dias and Kevin De Bruyne making up the club’s ‘leadership group’ last term under Fernandinho.