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Pep Guardiola: 'No Fernandinho contract talks until end of the season'

By Andrew Sinclair | 02 December 2019

Guardiola: 'No Fernandinho talks until end of season'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says that there will be no talks over a new contract for Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho until the end of the season.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that there will be no talks over a new contract for Fernandinho until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old midfielder, who has predominantly been deployed as a centre-back this season, is out of contract with the Citizens at the end of the current campaign.

Speaking ahead of the club's midweek game with Burnley, Guardiola said: "There will be a need to regenerate. David [Silva] has confirmed he is leaving. Fernandinho doesn't know, but its normal when players reach this age and stage in their lives. Of course we have to replace them [if they leave].

"I think at the end of the season we are going to decide all the situations; the players finishing contracts, the players for contracts, what we have to do, what we believe is the best for the club, for the organisation next season.

"[If they leave] we don't have to rebuild too much. Three players is not rebuilding a team. That's bringing in seven players, like we did in the second season when seven finished their contracts. Three players is just substituting some positions."

The Brazilian has scored 23 goals in 288 games in all competitions for City since joining the club from Shakhtar Donetsk for £30m in 2013.