Manchester City are ready to explore all avenues in order to keep Brazil midfielder Fernandinho at the club beyond this season.
The reigning Premier League champions are determined to ensure the talismanic defensive midfielder has the option of remaining part of life at the Etihad Campus.
Playing or coaching options, possibly both, will be on the table when the time comes to open talks with the 36-year-old who added to his lengthy list of impeccable performances in the 4-0 Premier League win at Norwich last weekend.
City are only too aware of the influence the veteran wields in the dressing room and with a host of youngsters set to either continue with, or join, the squad next season, they understand that Fernandinho’s welcoming ear and calm manner would continue to be invaluable to Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff.
The final decision will rest with the popular Brazilian. As with his football, the devout Christian, who turns 37 in May — three weeks before he could be again lifting the Premier League trophy — will selflessly include others in resolving his and their future.
Just as he does in training and on the pitch, Fernandinho’s modus operandi is to put his own desires at the back of the queue. He is a model professional who set the tone for his near decade-long City stay when he waived a multi-million pound payment owed to him by former club Shakhtar Donetsk in order to facilitate his move to Manchester.
The wishes of his wife and two children will weigh heavily on what he decides to do next. His daughter was born during the stay in Manchester and his City-supporting son was recently a ball boy at the Etihad.
Since arriving in 2013 'Ferna' has racked up nearly 400 appearances for City, won 11 trophies — to add to the six league titles he snaffled in Ukraine — and become captain of captains in the player hierarchy at the Etihad, a process that saw him win an in-house election to the five-strong committee of stars that look after the collective business of the squad.
Capped 53 times for his country, Fernandinho was for several seasons the glue that held together Guardiola’s system which relies on winning the ball back quickly, and accurate passing from the back.
Norwich 0 Manchester City 4: player ratings
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NORWICH CITY PLAYER RATINGS: Angus Gunn – 6. Faced his former academy side and made several saves in the opening minutes before denying Raheem Sterling with his boot at 25 minutes. He had no chance for Sterling’s goal, or the rebound that followed Sterling’s penalty. AFP -
Max Aarons – 4. Failed to clear a ball across the box, which landed at Sterling’s feet, with the Englishman making no mistake finding the net with a curling effort. Left his wing open with City constantly returning to enjoy their football. EPA -
Grant Hanley – 7. Denied an opener by the post after connecting well with Lees-Melou’s ball into the box. The Canaries’ captain thought he’d been the hero again when he hoofed Foden’s shot off the line, only for goal-line technology to rule otherwise. Getty Images -
Ben Gibson – 6. The former Burnley man’s looping header in the closing stages was unable to trouble Ederson, but he was largely solid at the back alongside Hanley. Getty Images -
Brandon Williams – 6. Beaten early on by Mahrez and found it challenging to deal with City’s quality on the wing. Made a much more sturdy pairing on the wing with Rashica. Getty Images -
Billy Gilmour – 6. One of only two changes for the Canaries with the Chelsea loanee returning to the starting eleven, but he couldn’t make too much happen as City looked relentless. AP -
Pierre Lees-Melou – 5. Whipped in a great cross for Hanley to head towards goal. Will be counting his blessings after a mislaid pass sprung City into an attack on the stroke of half-time. EPA -
Kenny McLean – 6. The Scotsman likely hoped to replicate the last time Norwich had hosted City at Carrow Road and expected to do better when the ball was laid off to him on the edge of the box. Sadly no goal heroics this time. Getty Images -
Milot Rashica – 7. Up for the game in the first half, consistently an outlet with his pace and charging runs with his balls causing concern. Shot straight at Ederson in the 60th minute. EPA -
Josh Sargent – 5. Returned to City’s starting line-up having missed the last two games with illness and Adam Idah injured, but the American forward failed to track the run of Gundogan several times and was left ball-watching in the moments leading up to City’s second. Getty Images -
Teemu Pukki – 5. The Finland international had several early moments where he looked to make use of his speed to catch City out, but his impact waned. AFP -
SUBS: Sam Bryam (Aarons 63’) – 6. Some respite for Aarons at right-back who was overworked and exhausted (no match photo available). Getty Images -
Mathias Normann (Lees Melou 63’) – 5. Part of the Norwegian’s return from pelvic surgery as Norwich fans looked for a brick wall in the middle. Didn’t see much action. Getty Images -
Kieran Dowell (Sargent 87’) – N/R. A late substitution for the Canaries. Getty Images -
MANCHESTER CITY PLAYER RATINGS: Ederson – 6. The Brazilian had the post to thank for denying Hanley when he was beaten, but he later got down low to claim Pukki’s shot in the early stages. Untroubled by Rashica’s shot in the second half. Reuters -
Kyle Walker – 6. City’s right back replaced John Stones and had some early uncharacteristic errors on the wing, gifting the ball to yellow shirts. However, his pace was handy in dealing with counter attacks. Getty Images -
Ruben Dias – 7. The only remaining member of the back four which kept the clean sheet against Brentford as Pep Guardiola opted to rest several members of his team. Booked for stopping Rashica’s storming run. Beat Sargent in the air to head across goal for Sterling to tap home. EPA -
Nathan Ake – 7. Given the task of keeping up with Pukki and was comfortable throughout. AFP -
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 8. Started his first game since Boxing Day and made his case as he looks for a run in the side, proving to be a constant problem on the wing. AFP -
Ilkay Gundogan – 7. The German playmaker saw his header comfortably saved by Gunn in the first half but created City’s second goal as he continued to be left free-roaming in the box by Sargent. EPA -
Fernandinho – 7. Did extremely well to clear the ball after it rebounded off the post from Hanley’s headed effort, with Gibson lurking. Chipped over a lovely ball to Walker just before half-time, which caused plenty of chaos in the Canaries half. EPA -
Bernardo Silva – 7. Started his 24th consecutive league game for City and was unbelievably unlucky to see a shot bounce off the post and into Gunn’s hands. Delivered an absolute beauty of a ball into the box inside 15 minutes, which evaded everyone. AFP -
Riyad Mahrez – 7. Saw his goal-scoring streak come to an end after being unable to score in his sixth consecutive game. The Algerian was denied at the near post with a smart save by Gunn. AFP -
Phil Foden – 7. Thought he’d finally beaten Gunn after two consecutive shots were parried away, only to see the offside flag raised. Just about managed to get the toe-poke in a crowded goalmouth to double City’s lead after the break. AP -
Raheem Sterling – 9. Saw his effort denied by Gunn’s boots inside 25 minutes but curled in a great ball to open the scoring. Denied at the penalty spot but lucky to tap in the rebound. Booked. Getty Images -
SUBS: James McAtee (Silva 75’) – N/R. Another run out for one of City’s youngsters as Pep Guardiola was able to rest key players ahead of their Champions League game against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. AP -
Liam Delap (Foden 82’) – N/R. Won a penalty during his cameo. EPA -
Kayky (Mahrez 84’) – N/R. The 18-year-old made his Premier League debut against the Canaries. AP
The player has also not been averse to swapping his muck and nettles day job in front of the back line to play at centre-half when the manager has requested.
In the past two seasons, Fernandinho, a tone setter on and off the field, has played second fiddle in the holding role to Spain international Rodri, and both of them have a young Belgian, Romeo Lavia, snapping at their heels.
Last season, the Brazilian made 36 appearances and this time around he has clocked up almost 20 in all competitions. With City routinely amassing upwards of 60 games per season it is a reduced workload but still a considerable contribution to Guardiola’s winning machine.
In his latest start at Norwich the skipper took the eye of former England, Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp, who was analysing the game for Sky Television.
“He has been incredible in his time in Manchester,” said Redknapp. “There have been so many masterclasses. He still sniffs out danger, he picks up great positions, he is never fazed, he still has great desire and there is no real weakness in his game.
“We don’t know how long we are going to be able to enjoy him for. For me he’s the number one defensive midfielder the Premier League has ever seen.”
Guardiola, a man who knows more than most about life in the midfield trenches, would not disagree.
With teenagers Cole Palmer, James McAtee, Liam Delap, Lavia, Luke Mbete, Joshua Wilson-Esbrand, Kayky, and Oscar Bobb all likely to be in and around the first team environment full time next season, Guardiola knows he needs trustworthy mentors in the dressing room who will fast-track the youngsters’ development and augment what he teaches them on the training ground.
“I have said many times what an incredible captain Fernandinho is,” said Guardiola. “On and off the pitch he helps the team a lot. In the locker room he is always there to give good advice.
“Fernandinho is an authentic leader. He knows his role perfectly and is always ready to help the team.
“He knows the club so well and we are a young team. We know his top mentality. He is an incredibly focused professional.”
One that City will be loath to let walk away.
