Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez has confirmed that he wants to leave the club in order to rejoin River Plate before the end of his playing career.

The Argentina international, who joined Man City from Chelsea for a Premier League record transfer fee of €145 million on Deadline Day this summer, spent 15 years at River Plate before his move to Benfica in 2022 and he remains a huge fan of the club.

Fernandez made 53 first-team appearances for River Plate before making the switch to Europe and although his Man City contract doesn’t expire until 2031, he is already thinking about an exit.

“I want to return to River at some point, I’ve said it several times. I’m going to return, I’m sure of it. It’s something I really want. I stand by my words and what’s on record,” Fernandez said on Argentine programme Los Edul (via Sport Witness).

“If I say it, it’s because I feel it and because I know I need to return to win things and enjoy the River Plate world for many more years than I did.

“Today, I’m here with a long contract at Manchester City. There’s still a long way to go, but it will happen.”

Fernandez was one of three high-profile central midfielders to join Man City this summer, alongside Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, and he has scored one goal in 10 appearances since his arrival at the club on 1 September.

An exit next year will almost certainly not take place unless City receive a huge punishment for their 114 financial breaches, however a transfer back to River Plate is expected to be finalised when Fernandez calls it quits on his career in Europe.

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 23, 2026

Who will leave Man City in 2027?

While Fernandez is expected to remain at Man City next year, there are several stars who are highly likely to depart the Etihad Stadium on permanent deals.

Rayan Ait-Nouri was heavily linked with an exit over the summer, following an underwhelming debut campaign at the club, and he has now attracted transfer interest from Manchester United amid his lack of game time under Enzo Maresca.

Meanwhile, Rico Lewis may be sold if he continues to play a peripheral role, and Mateo Kovacic will leave on a Bosman deal if Man City decide against reaching a contract extension agreement.

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