The Citizens former player hails Fernandinho’s influence

Fernandinho

, who has been one of the most important figures in

modern era, has signed a new contract with the club that commits him to the Citizens until June 2022, which means that he will be playing at Etihad Stadium after his 37th birthday.

Although he hasn’t been in the highlights for the fans, he has been an important player for the team, and this is what makes Manchester City’s former defender

Nedum Onuoha

call him an influential player.

"He's been influential for the club, the amount of games he's played and his influence to this day,"

Onuoha told Stats Perform last month

.

"Leagues had been won at the point [he signed] and he was being brought in to reinforce title challenges Those other people have a slightly different legacy because they weren't at City when City were dominant.

"He came in at a time to try and increase the dominance and improve the dominance. He's done it, he stayed for a long period of time and he has a huge, huge influence.

"That is something that you can't speak ill about because it's very easy for certain players to come in, see a club, feel it out, do well and go somewhere else.

"I don't think many people off the top their heads could name me a player who stayed at a club for 10 years and didn't come through their academy.

"So, for anybody who's stayed that long, it shows the performances have been great, the mentality has been great and they've been liked by the club and the fans.

"I don't think he'll get a statue but I'm pretty sure at some point people will, when he eventually leaves, people will make it abundantly clear that he was one of the most important players for City in this successful period."

Fernandinho has not been a regular starter at the club, but he has been a key player whenever he was in the game and has had a big role in his side’s successful campaign winning Premier League and EFL Cup and reaching the UCL final.

Follow

for the