Premier League title chasers have had their share of flops from Brazil but this time have backed a winner with £30 million midfielder
AT first glance, Fernandinho does not come across as a £30 million man. This steady, dependable midfielder does the easy things well for Manchester City; has done, in fact, since joining the club last summer from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Yet that feat, in itself, deserves some praise. Arriving in a strange country where the standards far outstrip Ukraine’s top flight, where the pace of the game can hit newcomers like a sledgehammer, the Brazilian has done remarkably well to adjust so quickly, very few hiccups impeding his progress.
Perversely, that has meant he has not always caught the eye, leading critics to wonder what it is exactly the 28-year-old brings to a team previously featuring the experienced Gareth Barry.
Did City buy the wrong Brazilian? Should they have gone for Paulinho instead? Tottenham Hotspurs’ man, after all, finds a place in the Brazil national squad, perhaps at the expense of his counterpart.
Still time, however, to make amends before the World Cup. Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazil manager, cannot ignore developments at the Etihad where the number of doubters is dwindling by the day. Fernandinho’s contributions are now being better appreciated, partly thanks to a few recent goals. A brace against Arsenal was followed on Wednesday by a powerful drive at Swansea City that opened the scoring in City’s 3-1 win.
The sweet strike illustrated the player’s growing confidence. Moving on to a poor clearance after a corner, Fernandinho attacked the ball with real purpose and intent to set the tone for an important performance from a side that had previously struggled away from home.
Sat next to Yaya Toure, as he has done for most of this season, Fernandinho worked with his brain as well as his legs to try and combat Swansea’s extra man in that part of the field.
That challenge, in actual fact, must have tested his stamina to the limit seeing as his manager Manuel Pellegrini has asked the player to start every game over Christmas.
No rest for someone unfamiliar with this country’s peculiar traditions, someone more used to putting his feet up at this time of year. You would not know it though as Fernandinho battled through the wind and rain for the full 90 minutes.
In his favour, City’s No 25 does not have to try anything spectacular, not when so many around him are more than capable of that. David Silva, Samir Nasri, Sergio Agüero, Alvaro Negredo and Toure they can be left to produce the fireworks. For their more understated team-mate, it is about getting it and giving it, passing and moving a simple equation for the new man.
Importantly, Fernandinho seems happy with that. Having avoided injury, having steered clear of too many bookings, he has been granted a run in the side which now sees him looking totally at home.
Alongside, Toure must be delighted because the security offered by his new partner brings out the best in the big Ivorian. Enjoying a much better time than last term, Touré’s 12 goals must be partly attributed to the natural chemistry between the pair. Fernandinho’s caution grants Touré more freedom, spelling bad news for any opponent.
That also goes for teams facing City these days. Pellegrini’s side are looking ominously strong, with several match winners crucially supported by a central midfield that takes some beating.
After winning 11 major trophies with Shakhtar over eight years, Fernandinho is certainly no stranger to success. But this would be different. Should City end up winning the Premier League, the achievement would surely be ranked as his best.
A lad, who left home at 17 to pursue a career, has shown great fortitude over the years. Any City fan fearing another Brazilian flop, following in the footsteps of Robinho and Jo, can now rest easy. Fernandinho is not the type to let anyone down.
