Why Manchester City Fans Should Be Excited About Fernandinho

When Brazil midfielder Fernandinho joined Manchester City in June, doubts were raised over the €30 million transfer fee that the club had parted with for his services.

However, in equal number, were those who felt that the Brazilian's capture was ideal for City, providing drive and quality in the centre of midfield that was too often missing when Ivorian Yaya Toure was not at his best.

It is one of those cases where, even if the fee may be on the high side, it is the case that teams will often overpay for a player should they fit the exact specifications that they are looking for.

In Fernandinho, they have that man and, at 28 years old, the hope will be that his extensive experience and history of success will place him in good stead to step immediately into his new side.

He is already saying the right things and has proved popular with the club's supporters on Twitter.

"In Ukraine, as well as in Brazil, Manchester City are now considered one of the best teams in the world," he said in a press conference this week (via ESPN). "After I signed people back home in Brazil congratulated me for signing for one of the top teams in the world." 

Now, though, having won over the supporters off the pitch, the onus will be on the former Atletico Paranaense and Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder to prove himself on it.

Given his skill set, there is much that he can potentially offer his new side. Most likely, he will line up alongside a recognised defensive midfielder such as Javi Garcia and look to push forward to support the team's attacking unit.

That could also be the case should Manuel Pellegrini choose to play a three-man central midfield with both Toure and Fernandinho ahead of a holding player.

The alternative, perhaps for matches against perceived "lesser" teams, is a double pivot of Toure and Fernandinho which, if the players can strike an understanding of the balance required, should be more than enough to overcome many sides.

What Fernandinho will offer is the ability to vary the style of play. He is perfectly at home in a quick and dynamic side, as shown in recent seasons at Shakhtar. However, he is also capable of sitting deeper and manipulating the ball to ensure dominance of possession.

As with the capture of Jesus Navas, who will offer the side width that they were sadly lacking last campaign, the Brazilian will give Pellegrini tactical flexibility that wasn't available to Roberto Mancini last season.

Should the club sign 23-year-old Montenegrin forward Stevan Jovetic as expected, according to Express, those options are only set to increase yet further. 

With director of football Txiki Begiristain now seemingly in charge of the club's recruitment matters, they have moved with impressive speed to strengthen ahead of the 2013-14 season.

Fernandinho is just one mightily impressive capture who will help in the club's evolution. It appears, though, as if it is an evolutionary process that is set to continue apace in the coming weeks.