Flamengo's vice-president has distanced his club from a potential free-transfer for Manchester City captain Fernandinho for the time being.
Fernandinho shocked fans — and even Pep Guardiola — last week when announcing in a press conference that he expected to leave City after his contract expires in the summer, with a return to Brazil his preferred move. He said: "I want to play, I will go back to Brazil. I decided with my family, which is the most important thing for me."
Now, his former club Atletico Paranaense have been linked with his signature, as have Flamengo. However, Flamengo president vice-president Marcos Braz has given an update on their apparent interest.
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It has been reported that while Fernandinho has decided to leave City, he is fully committed to the end of the season with the Blues and is not yet exploring any options to return to Brazil. That tallies with comments from Braz, who told reporters this weekend they are planning talks with the former Brazil international.
“As soon as he is released, we will talk," Braz said (via Torcedores). "There’s nothing. I know his agent. He didn’t sort his life. There’s nothing.
"We have a demand from Paulo [Sousa, manager] who has priorities, as he closed the window, calmly let's see this, a reformulation of priorities."
The comments come amid fresh reports that Fernandinho is in talks with his first club Atletico Paranaense, where he made 72 appearances between 2002-2005 before securing a move to Shakhtar Donetsk.
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