Manchester City ace signs contract extension

Martin Macdonald

• 29 Jun 2021 04:21 CDT

Manchester City captain Fernandinho has signed a one-year contract extension to remain at the Etihad.

The 36-year-old's previous deal ran out in June meaning he would have became a free agent in July.

However, he will now remain a Man City player up to and beyond his 37th birthday, having become a talismanic figure at the club since signing from Shakhtar in 2013.

Fernandinho has been with Man City for eight seasons now and has accumulated four Premier League titles and six League Cup titles, while he helped the club reach its first ever Champions League final in 2021.

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He believes his work in Manchester is not quite done yet.

“In my head and my mind, the job is not done yet,” Fernandinho told the official Man City website after putting pen to paper.

“And so that's why I decided to stay here another year and try to help the team and the Club to achieve the goals that they're looking for. In my point of view, we can do that, there’s still places to improve and to get those targets. And obviously, for me and for my family it’s a pleasure to stay in Manchester for one more year.

“If I can keep doing the same way, leading them inside the pitch, off the pitch, to help them to improve and get better and to perform better during the games, I would be the happiest person there."

Fernandinho's Man City contributions

The Brazilian has made 350 appearances for Man City and has become one of the iconic figures at the club not just for his contributions on the pitch, but for his leadership role off it.

Director of football Txiki Begiristain says his influence cannot be "overstated".

"Fernandinho's contribution to Manchester City cannot be overstated," Begiristain insisted.

"He is an outstanding footballer - one of the best in the world in his position - and an exemplary professional.

"He is our captain, our leader and it is a position he has excelled in. There are a number of talented young players in our squad and, therefore, it is vital we have somebody with Fernandinho's knowledge and experience."

Man City manager Pep Guardiola controversially left Fernandinho and Rodri on the bench for the Champions League final loss against Chelsea, opting to play Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan in holding roles instead.

Prior to that match, he had started 22 fixtures last season.