After nine-year stint in England, Former Manchester City captain Fernandinho has returned to his first club and signed for Athletico Paranaense, the Brazilian club said on Monday.

He started his career at Athletico as a teenager in 2002 before moving to Ukraine to join Shakhtar Donetsk in 2005.

With Shakhtar Donetsk, he won six Ukrainian league titles, four Ukrainian cups and the UEFA Cup, the precursor to the Europa League, in 2009 and this attracted City to bring him to Etihad.

And with City also, he had a fruitful career time by winning five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, six League Cups and played in the 2021 Champions League final.

Athletico are currently third in the Brazilian league and through to the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores, where they will play Paraguay’s Libertad.

Fernandinho will be available from July 18 when Brazilian teams can register new players.

Published by Dabi Gizachew Megersa