The Manchester City Official Website has been making no secret of its admiration for the 28 year-old Brazilian star and is spearheading calls for Fernandinho to earn the international recognition his recent performances deserve.
Last weekend Fernandinho picked up man-of-the-match honours for a superb display in Manchester City’s 6-3 demolition of Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium and the groundswell of opinion in the British press is that his international exile may soon end.
One of the impressed journalists at the Etihad on Saturday was Manchester Evening News’ Stuart Brennan, who reported: "The quiet, understated midfielder put on a masterclass of holding midfield play, and netted two top-quality goals to underline his growing importance [to Manchester City]."
"His passing, long and short, has been exemplary and, as we twice saw against Arsenal, he can finish when he does get the chance to go forward himself."
Teammate Samir Nasri was blunt about manager Felipe Scolari’s continuing oversight of the midfielder and said: "I think it is a mistake. I have a great respect for the other Brazilian players but when I look at their squad I think he deserves a place in there."
The former Shakhtar Donetsk star has just five caps for the Seleção with his last coming in the defeat by Bosnia nearly two years ago. Despite this, many expect Fernandinho to be involved in Brazil’s next friendly which will be against South Africa in March.
