CSKA Moscow’s communications chief, Kirill Breido, explained that the club could not prevent Mario Fernandez from continuing his career back home at this juncture. He stressed that CSKA did not block Mario’s desire to pursue football in Brazil and that the club respected his wish to be near his wife and newborn son. The stance was simple: support Mario’s professional path while aligning with his personal priorities. This mutual understanding keeps a door open for a future CSKA reunion, as Breido noted in comments attributed to Sport Express.
Mario has been part of CSKA since 2012, and since 2017 he has consistently featured for the Russian national team. The veteran defender, who represented the national team, announced a personal decision near the end of last season to suspend his playing career indefinitely before CSKA’s final match. The club chose not to stand in the way of the player’s choice, acknowledging his long service to the club and to Russian football. Earlier this summer, the player opted against extending his contract with CSKA, relying on FIFA’s rights to evaluate his options.
Fernandez returned to Brazil to rest and spend time with his family. In September, Mario and his wife welcomed a son, adding a new chapter to his life off the pitch. His contract with CSKA is set to expire in 2024, a timeline that keeps the door ajar for potential future discussions about a return to the club he helped to establish in the 2010s.
There had been talk surrounding Fernandez’s potential return to Russia, a possibility that once seemed uncertain. The overall situation reflects the realities players and clubs face when balancing national team duties, personal life, and contractual commitments across leagues that span two continents. The club’s leadership emphasized that both sides share a common wish: to see Fernandez in a CSKA jersey again if circumstances allow, while the player remains focused on maintaining peak form and personal well‑being. The evolving narrative underscores the broader dynamics of modern football where career moves are influenced by family needs, international appearances, and the ever‑present consideration of long-term club heritage. Fernandez’s journey illustrates how veteran players can navigate transfers, contract negotiations, and personal priorities without severing ties with a club that shaped a significant portion of their professional life.