Pep Guardiola was caught off guard after Fernandinho said he will not renew his Manchester City contract.
Fernandinho has been a pivotal figure for City since his arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013.
He has helped the club win four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and the EFL Cup six times.
However, at the age of 36, he is now back-up to Rodri in Guardiola's midfield, while the Brazilian is also able to fill in at centre-back if required.
Fernandinho has made 23 appearances across all competitions this season, though only 12 of those have been starts and on Tuesday, he suggested he will not be signing a new deal, with his contract due to expire at the end of 2021-22.
"I don't think so," he told a news conference when asked if he would be extending his stay in Manchester.
"I want to play regularly. I will go back to Brazil. I decided with my family, which is the most important for me."
Guardiola, however, was taken by surprise.
"Oh, I didn't know. You give me the news," City's manager said when it was his time to face the media.
"I didn't hear it. We will see what happens. I don't know what will happen. He is so important. I'll ask him.
"At the end of the season we talk, maybe it's because of his family. I would love it. We will talk."
Expanding on his appreciation of Fernandinho, Guardiola added: "The role he plays this season, I like the people who behave behind the scenes.
"I know what he has done, he handles many of our players and stars for the benefit of the team. I praise him and he was here when I arrived.
"We know him well, from day one to now always here. An incredible player for Man City. There are things nobody knows but I know exactly."
City face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
Ched Evans expects to be back playing football next season after surgery
Preston striker Ched Evans has confirmed he has undergone successful surgery for what the club described as “a serious medical condition”.
The 34-year-old revealed in April that he had developed a condition which could have “potentially life-changing consequences”.
Evans revealed on North End’s website that surgery had gone well and that he expects to return to action next season.
“I’m five weeks post-surgery and the surgery went really well,” he said.
“It took three hours. They went in through my throat, they removed some bone and some plates which were compressing my spinal cord, but the surgery went really well.
“I met with the surgeon last week and he was really pleased with how I’m recovering.
“He said once the bone has fused to the cages that my neck will be as strong as ever, which was the best news we could have wished for.
“It also means that I’ll be back next season doing what I love to do: scoring goals and winning games with Preston.”
Caolan Boyd-Munce agrees new one-year contract with St Mirren
Caolan Boyd-Munce has agreed a one-year contract extension with St Mirren, who have confirmed star striker Curtis Main, Charles Dunne, Joe Shaughnessy and Richard Tait will all move on.
The 23-year-old midfielder joined Saints in March on a deal until the end of the season and the club has taken up the option to extend that until the summer of 2024 with an appearance-based option for another year.
The Northern Irishman – who began his career at Glentoran and had spells at Birmingham and Middlesbrough – made three appearances for the Buddies last season with his first start coming in Saturday’s match against Rangers at The SMiSA Stadium.
Manager Stephen Robinson told stmirren.com: “Caolan was never going to come into the first team fold straight away because he hadn’t played for a long time.
“What we could see three months ago, he is now starting to achieve. Sometimes, that gamble is worthwhile.
“He’s different from what we have. He will find passes and put people through on goal as he gets fitter and stronger.
“We believe that come August/September, he has a real chance of starting games for us and pushing on. There’s so much more to come from him.”
“The option for a different type of midfielder who is similar to an Ethan Erhahon (who left for Lincoln in January) makes us stronger as a squad.”
Robinson, who has 20 players under contract for next season, did not expect 31-year-old striker Main, a key player since joining from Shrewsbury two years ago, to extend his time in Paisley.
The former Morecambe and Motherwell manager will also have to bolster his defence this summer.
Club captain, Shaughnessy, 30, joined the Buddies from Southend in 2020 and was out of the team earlier in the season.
Fellow centre-back Dunne, 30, arrived from Motherwell two years ago while full-back Tait, 33, also signed from the Steelmen in 2020.
In a general squad update, the Buddies website said: “Offers were made to Charles Dunne, Curtis Main and captain Joe Shaughnessy, but all three have decided that their futures lie elsewhere.
“With over 250 combined appearances between them, we thank them immensely for their respective contributions to St Mirren and wish them the very best in their new challenges.
“Richard Tait also departs after almost three years at the club where he made 87 appearances and scored three goals. We sincerely thank Richard for his contributions and wish him the very best in whatever comes next.
“Tony Watt and Thierry Small have returned to their parent clubs, Dundee United and Southampton, respectively. We thank them for their time at St Mirren and wish them all the best for their future.
“An offer to Youth Academy graduate Jay Henderson remains on the table.”
Diogo Dalot happy to continue ‘special journey’ after signing new Man Utd deal
Diogo Dalot says everyone at Manchester United feels like they are “at the start of a special journey” after signing a new deal until at least 2028.
The 24-year-old right-back joined from Porto in 2018 and has gone on to make 107 appearances in all competitions for the club.
Dalot, who spent the 2020-21 season on loan at AC Milan, has now signed new terms at Old Trafford for the next five years, with the option of a further season.
“Playing for Manchester United is one of the highest honours that you can have in football,” the 11-cap Portugal international said.
“We have shared some fantastic moments over the past five years and I’ve grown so much and my passion for this incredible club has only increased since the day that I joined.
“As a group of players, we all feel like we are at the start of a special journey right now.
“I can assure you that I will dedicate myself relentlessly to helping this group to achieve our aims and make the fans proud of this team.
“That drive continues this week with everyone intensely focused on preparations for the FA Cup final.”
Dalot began the season superbly under Erik ten Hag, but much-improved Aaron Wan-Bissaka may get the nod to start Saturday’s FA Cup final at right-back.
View this post on InstagramIrrespective of his role against Manchester City this weekend, United football director John Murtough is delighted by the strides the full-back has made.
“Diogo is an excellent defender, with a great combination of pace, strength and versatility,” he said. “He has consistently developed, improving year-on-year since joining the club in 2018.
“Diogo’s work ethic and professionalism is superb; the way in which he prepares himself every day in order to perform at his highest level is exactly what we all want from a Manchester United player.
“Diogo has a strong mentality, high standards and a great personality, and we are delighted that he will remain an important member of the squad for the coming years.”
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