Manchester City captain Fernandinho shocked his manager Pep Guardiola by revealing he is not planning to sign a new deal to keep him at the club beyond this season.
The 36-year-old is out of contract in the summer and speaking to the press ahead of Man City’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, the Brazilian, who has played more than 370 games for City in all competitions, revealed he is unlikely to extend his stay to a 10th season with the Premier League champions.
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When asked if he wants to leave the Etihad Stadium to play more, he said: “Yes, I want to play. I want to play regularly.
“I will go back to Brazil. I decided with my family, which is the most important for me.”
The former Brazil international, who signed a one-year contract extension last June, has won four Premier League titles and six League Cups since joining City from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013.
Fernandinho later issued a statement on Twitter saying he had given an “honest and spontaneous” answer over his future and was fully committed to City’s bid for the treble.
He said: “I was 100 per cent honest and spontaneous in answering that question at today’s press conference.
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