In the early hours of 14 April, City will face Atletico away in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. However, at the press conference, captain Fernandinho broke a big news, and when asked about his future at Manchester City, the 36-year-old veteran said: "I want to continue to play regularly, I will return to Brazil to play." It was a decision I made with my family, and they were the most important thing to me. ”
This is unproven news. Before that, Fernandinho had never revealed his future, and many people thought he would stay at Manchester City and join Guardiola's coaching staff after retiring to continue to shine for the Blue Moon. So after Fei Bird himself announced the news of his departure, Manchester City manager Guardiola was also confused. When the reporter asked him how he felt after learning the news, Guardiola said: "Oh! I don't know about it either, I'll ask him to find out. It didn't look like the Spanish headmaster's face was pretending.
However, it is not surprising that Fei Bird made such a decision, this season, he has only played 23 games in all competitions, including 12 starts and 1 goal and 2 assists, of which the Premier League has only 13 appearances and 6 starts, with 1 goal and 1 assist. In fact, as early as 3 years ago, Guardiola had already found a successor for Fernandinho, Rodri from La Liga. In the 2019/20 season, Rodri replaced Fei Bird as The main defender of Manchester City, but that season Laporte was seriously injured, so that Guardiola had to let Fernandinho, who was originally sitting on the bench, come forward to fight the fire as a cameback, resulting in 30 of the 41 games in all seasons, including 30 premier league games, playing one more game than Rhodri in the 2018/19 season before he came.
Last season, Fernandinho continued to be a substitute for Rodri, but thanks to the latter's decline in form, Fei Bird still made 36 appearances in various competitions, played well in the Champions League, and lured Di Maria to a yellow card in the semi-finals. Unfortunately, in the final with Chelsea, Guardiola began to work again, letting Gundogan play as a single back. As a result, Manchester City lost 1-0 to the Blues. After the game, even Blues coach Tuchel expressed incomprehension that Guardiola would not let Fei Bird start.
However, as Rhodri matured, Fei Bird finally experienced the feeling of hero twilight. In fact, he had already expired his contract last season, but City eventually gave him a one-year contract extension at the end of the season. So far this season, Manchester City has not talked to him about a contract extension, but it does not matter whether they will give Fei Bird a new contract as they did last summer.
Fernandinho is a very low-key player who has been with Etihad for nine years since joining Manchester City in July 2013, scoring 25 goals in 373 appearances and providing 32 assists. Although he is not tall and his confrontation ability is not strong at the Premier League level, relying on his outstanding ball quotient and good personal ability, Fernandinho still has a firm foothold in Manchester City and becomes the main back of the team.
After the arrival of Guardiola, Fei Bird was even more successful in his tactical system, after david Silva left the team, Fernandinho was expected to become the first captain of Manchester City, and Guardiola was also ready to let Fei Bird join his coaching staff. Unfortunately, there is no unbroken feast in the world. After winning four Premier League titles, six League Cups, one FA Cup and two Community Shield titles, Fei Bird issued his own farewell declaration.
At the age of 36, Fei Bird can no longer play three times a week and still be full of vitality, but he still has the dream of dedicating himself to football. Rodri's rise has left him without a place in Manchester City, and Fei Bird did not choose to spend time on the bench, but resolutely packed his bags and went to the next stop to continue his football dream, and has since forgotten about it. It's a respectable choice, and what City have to do is fight for the Champions League trophy as a gift for the veteran.