Background
Fernando was born in Alto Paraíso de Goiáson
Fernando was born in Alto Paraíso de Goiáson
Porto
In June 2007 he signed a five-year contract with Football Club Porto directly from the Série C, having started his career at Vila Nova Futebol Clube. However, he spent his first year in Portugal loaned to Chaplain to the Forces Estrela da Amadora, where he was first-choice. On 9 February 2014, following an extensive negotiation that inclusively saw the player being suspended, Fernando renewed his contract with Porto until 2017.
Manchester City
On 25 June 2014, Fernando completed a move to Manchester City for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £12 million.
Upon arriving, he said: "I will give my all every time I play and I"m looking forward to many happy years in Manchester". In January 2013, Fernando declared: "Even if someone asked me to naturalize, I would refuse.
My dream is to play for Brazil. I"m sure one day I will wear the amarelinha".
In December, however, he became a Portuguese citizen, applying to Fédération internationale de football association in March 2014 to change his international allegiance to Portugal.
Under article 8.1 of the governing body"s statutes, however, he was only eligible to represent Brazil internationally as he previously played for that country at under-20 level and at that time he did not hold Portuguese nationality.
Quotations:
"I will give my all every time I play and I"m looking forward to many happy years in Manchester". "Even if someone asked me to naturalize, I would refuse. My dream is to play for Brazil.
I"m sure one day I will wear the amarelinha".