Fernandinho will be a new Athletico Paranaense player with Nicolás Hernández and Luis Orejuela | Colombians Abroad

A decision that was known before the summer arrived in England and Brazil. It was only waiting for the official announcement from July 1 when Fernandinho is released from Manchester City after nine seasons wearing the light blue colors of the citizens. The desire to return to his country will become a reality in less than ten days and there is already a team for the Brazilian.

After 17 years, Fernandinho will return to the club that gave him the opportunity to be a professional in football. Athletico Paranaense, the team that saw him born in 2002 when he was part of the institution’s first team. With Furacao he was runner-up in the League in 2004 and the following year he managed to win the Paranaense Championship and reached the final of the Copa Conmebol Libertadores losing to Sao Paulo.

In 2006 he left Athletico Paranense to fulfill his dream of playing in Europe, where he raised the interest of big clubs by wearing the colors of Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainians were a springboard to later reach Manchester City in 2013.

Nine years have passed since Fernandinho joined Manchester City, took the club captaincy and, furthermore, was the architect of a glorious era for citizens, lifting 14 national trophies between the Premier League, FA Cups, Community Shield and the English League Cup. . He made history by being the second player with the most trophies at City after his teammate, Sergio el ‘Kun’ Agüero.

‘I want to play next season. I will go to Brazil. I will decide with my family, which is the most important thing for me,’ he maintained in April at a press conference. Thus, he will sign from next week and early July with the team that saw him born, Athletico Paranaense. Unfortunately, as he will be released on June 30, he will probably not make it to the Copa Libertadores when they face Paraguay’s Libertad in the round of 16.

From Colombia they celebrate his arrival at Athletico Paranaense, as he will meet two Colombian players who will have the luxury of having a historical partner like Fernandinho. Nicolás Hernández, with a past at Atlético Nacional and Independiente Santa Fe, and Luis Manuel Orejuela, who played for Deportivo Cali, Ajax, Cruzeiro, Gremio and Sao Paulo.

Not everyone can say that they have a former Manchester City player as a partner, who not only shone and carried the captaincy, but also lifted 14 trophies, consolidating himself in the history of citizens as a celestial reference. With Nicolás Hernández and Luis Manuel Orejuela, Fernandinho could accompany them in the defensive defense, since he knows that position or as a defensive midfielder, the place in which he has performed the most in his sports career.

Although Fernandinho will not arrive before the registration of the squad closes to face the round of 16 of the Conmebol Libertadores Cup on June 28 in Brazil against Libertad and on July 5 in Paraguay, the Brazilian midfielder could play in the quarterfinals , as long as Furacao beats its rival. There in that instance they could meet Estudiantes de la Plata or Fortaleza.

A great leader will arrive to give instructions to a defense made up of Nicolás Hernández, who is currently injured, and Luis Manuel Orejuela. Hernández has played 28 games with Athletico Paranaense, while Orejuela arrived recently and has barely played six games at Furacao.