Brazil-born water carrier will be available for nothing this summer.
Serie A champions Juventus hope to beat mega-rich Premier League outfit Manchester City to the signing of in-demand FC Porto holding midfielder Fernando at the end of the season, according to reports in the Daily Express.
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The north-west giants tried to land the former Brazil Under-20 international on transfer deadline day last month, only for the Blues to run out of time to complete a deal for the player, and his team-mate Eliaquim Mangala too.
However, it is understood that City are still planning on returning for Fernando this summer, but which point the 26-year-old will be a free agent, with the defensive midfielder’s current contract with the Portuguese champions running out on June 30 2014.
But now City are set to face stiff competition for the player’s signature from the Old Lady of Italian Football, who themselves are desperate to try and snap Fernando up on a lucrative Bosman-style free transfer.
And with the likes of fellow Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United having also sent scouts over to the Estadio Dragao this season to watch the recently naturalised Portugal international in action first hand, there could be as many as four European heavyweights going head to head for Fernando this summer.