CSKA Moscow’s Communications Director, Kirill Breido, spoke about the club’s aspirations to renew their collaboration with defender Mario Fernandez. He emphasized that talks are ongoing and that both sides share a clear wish: Mario should return to CSKA, and the player himself wants to come home. Breido noted that there are a few practical details to sort out, particularly the current dynamics between Mario’s representatives and Internacional, but he expressed confidence that these issues will be resolved soon. He added that the transfer window is closed for now and the season’s finish line is near, but the overall outlook remains hopeful as discussions progress.
Last season, just before CSKA’s final match, the 31-year-old former member of the Russian national team decided to pause his professional playing career indefinitely. He left CSKA to head back to Brazil to rest and spend time with his family. In September, it was announced that Mario and his wife welcomed a son. Since May of the previous year, the defender had not taken the field, and his contract with CSKA was due to expire in 2024.
In December, CSKA granted Fernandez permission to join Internacional in Brazil on a one-year loan basis. It later emerged that his tenure with the Brazilian club had concluded by April 2023. Reports earlier indicated that Mario Fernandez was considering a summer return to CSKA.
The club continues to monitor the situation closely, aiming to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement that allows Fernandez to rejoin CSKA and contribute with his experience and leadership. As discussions unfold, supporters and analysts alike wait to see whether a suitable pathway for a reunion can be secured within the framework of the current season and beyond.
Overall, the tone from CSKA is positive and pragmatic: the door remains open, and both the club and the player appear ready to explore every feasible option to make a homecoming a reality. The evolving relationship between Fernandez’s camp and Internacional is a key factor in the talks, but there is a shared sense of determination to navigate the remaining hurdles and finalize an arrangement that satisfies all parties involved, including the family considerations that have shaped Fernandez’s recent decisions. The ongoing dialogue reflects CSKA’s commitment to reintegrating a familiar figure who has previously contributed to the club’s efforts and understands the club’s culture and expectations.