• Premier League

Fernandinho had to plead to seal City move

ESPN staff
June 10, 2013
Fernandinho will cost Manchester City around £30 million © PA Photos
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New Manchester City player Fernandinho admits he had to 'convince' Shakhtar Donetsk officials to let him leave for the Premier League.

City completed the rumoured £34 million transfer of the Brazilian international last week, the beginning of what is expected to be a busy summer for the Eastlands club.

But City only got their man after some intense negotiations between player and his former employers.

"I'm relieved," he told Globo. "It was a big battle. The negotiations were intense, took several days and I even abandoned my vacation.

"Everybody left after the league was over but I stayed in Ukraine to convince the club to release me as the buy-out fee was really very high and nobody would pay that.

"When the first offer came in, they said no. I insisted a lot in order to convince the manager, the board and even the captain.

"I had meetings with the president who promised he would talk with Man City if an offer of 40 million Euros came, which finally happened.

"The truth is that I wanted to leave Shakhtar after eight years there. I told them this. As I was loved there, respected by the fans and within the club, they gave up.

"But I think they demanded such a high fee just to find out how much Man City wanted to sign me. Also, knowing Ukrainian culture, they were afraid someone would offer a lower fee and sign me."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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