FERNANDINHO fancies being the Etihad’s golden oldie for a few years yet.
And he takes inspiration from fellow Samba star Ze Roberto — who played at the top level until the grand old age of 43.
Fernandinho has been playing for Manchester City since 2013Credit: Getty – Contributor
At 34, Fernandinho is a young whippersnapper by comparison and has no plans to hang up his boots at Manchester City just yet.
A changing of the guard may be gradually taking place at the club, with some of their legends reaching the end of the road.
Vincent Kompany left last year while another veteran David Silva, 34, announced he will quit at the end of the current campaign.
But Brazilian Fernandinho says he has been given a new lease of life by Pep Guardiola converting him into a centre-back over the summer.
So City’s decision to offer him a new 12-month deal — as revealed by SunSport last week — seems like a no-brainer for all parties.
And he is unlikely to be settle for that either — after revealing who one of his favourite football role models is.
Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Aston Villa, Fernandinho said: “We will see how long I keep playing. I’m feeling good, feeling confident.
“You have to look after yourself, too, because it’s the best way to perform. We have a player who played for so many years in Germany and then after in Brazil, played until he was 43.
“Ze Roberto is his name. Gabi Jesus played with him at Palmeiras.
“He was a winger, left-back, midfielder, played for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and was just an inspiration for me.”
Fernandinho knows he was an exception, rather than the norm, and refuses to put any timescale on how long he can go on for.
Yet his performances show no signs of dropping off and he keeps himself in tip-top shape.
He told Sport360: “I don’t want to say I will go on until then.
“We just don’t know what will happen tomorrow. But I am happy and this is making me keep playing and performing better.
“I want to keep playing — but don’t put pressure on myself that I will play until 40 or something. I’m happy to be playing alongside these players and, of course, this is motivation for me to stay.”
Guardiola admits he will always be grateful to Fernandinho for what he has done for him as a manager.
After starring as a midfielder for so long, he faced losing his place when City broke their transfer record to sign Rodri for £62.5million from Atletico Madrid last July.
But Pep always said he would like to use the former Shakhtar Donetsk man as a centre-half.
And an injury to defender Aymeric Laporte early in the season opened up that possibility.
Since it happened in late August, Fernandinho has barely put a foot wrong and is arguably City’s best defender this term.
What is more, the £30m signing reckons it was just what he needed to get a new lease of life.
Fernandinho explained: “I think this has helped me really grow up as a player and to get better.
“When you play in certain different positions you understand the game better and try to help your other team-mates as well.
“I know what role the holding midfielder should do, the centre-back playing left or right and the full-back — it’s now all clear in my head. I have adapted myself.
“So playing in defence, it opens your mind, especially under Pep as you can understand the game much easier.
“For me it doesn’t matter playing midfield or centre-back now.”
Fernandinho’s 6½ years in England have seen him win a clean sweep of domestic trophies — including three Premier League titles.
Another looks to be out of reach this season with Liverpool 14 points clear of the champions having played one less game.
The Manchester City wants to follow in the footsteps of Brazil legend Ze RobertoCredit: AP:Associated Press
But the Brazilian star claims the appetite to win more silverware remains undimmed at the Etihad.
City have picked up five of the last six domestic cups in England — as well as the last two Community Shields — and they remain in three competitions.
Fernandinho said: “We’ve passed through difficult moments but just have to keep going.
“We have dropped so many points in the league, though the desire to win trophies should be in the heart and in the mind.”
Another of Guardiola’s Etihad icons, Sergio Aguero, is closing in on a milestone in English football.
The veteran Argentine, 31, just needs one goal tomorrow at Villa to draw level with Arsenal great Thierry Henry — who is leading foreign scorer in Premier League history with 175 goals.
And Guardiola gushed: “It’s an incredible achievement. Aguero has adapted perfectly. He can score from everywhere and is just an incredible striker.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola will not bear a grudge if Leroy Sane quits.
Bayern Munich are expected to make another bid for the German winger, 23, in the summer.
Sane, who is close to returning from a serious knee injury, has only 18 months left on his contract and snubbed new terms.
Guardiola said: “Is it upsetting? Absolutely not — three years ago is different to right now.
“Players have their own dreams. What I want is him to come back fit. His future is not in my hands.”
Aguero will score more goals than a legend
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
