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
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.
