Pep Guardiola was clearly caught off-guard and left in shock after finding out in an interview with a journalist about his captain Fernandinho’s announcement on his plans to leave the Premier League leaders at the end of the season.
The Brazil international has been a regular feature at the Etihad since 2013 and had signed a one-year extension to his contract last June. However, when asked if he would be continuing with City next season his response was quite unexpected:
“No, I want to play regularly. I will go back to Brazil. I decided with my family, which is the most important for me.”
Guardiola’s response to the comments in the press was candid, admitting he had no prior knowledge of the midfielder’s desire to leave.
“I didn’t know it,” said Guardiola. “We will see what happens at the end of the season. We don’t know what’s going to happen. Fernandinho, I’ve said many times, is so important for me. We will see what happens but, anyway, I will talk to him.
“Maybe it’s a family decision or maybe he wants more minutes than he has had this season, I don’t know. I will speak to him, of course, but this kind of situation…at the end of the season we are going to talk.”
Fernandinho has since posted on social media insisting he remains focused on finishing the season with City.
“Anyone who knows me also knows that my greatest honesty is with Manchester City and my duties as team captain,” he said on Twitter.
“My focus is 100% on winning all the titles we are playing for and I will only talk about my future at the end of the season. Let’s keep pushing!”