The midfielder completed a reported £125 million move from Chelsea in September, signing a five-year contract that runs until the summer of 2031. Yet the 25-year-old has already made clear that his long-term plans include a return to the club where he developed as a player.
“I want to return to River at some point. I’ve said it several times. I’m going to return, I’m sure. It’s something I really want,” Fernández told Los Edul.
“I stand by my words and what’s on record. If I say it, it’s because I feel it and know I need to return to win things and enjoy the River Plate world for many more years than I did.
“Today, I’m here with a long contract at Man City. There’s still a long way to go, but it will happen.”
Fernández made clear that the ambition does not mean he is considering an immediate departure from Manchester.
Fernández came through River Plate’s academy and made 53 first-team appearances, scoring 12 goals, before moving to Benfica in 2022. His performances in Argentina earned him a move to Portugal, where his development continued before he joined Chelsea and established himself in the Premier League.
He left River after helping the club win domestic honours and making a strong impression during his return to the first team.
His time at River remains a defining part of his career. He wants to win trophies there and experience its footballing culture for longer than he managed during his first spell.
City have invested heavily in the Argentina international, but his contract gives the Premier League side control of his immediate future. Fernández’s remarks should therefore be read as a declaration of a longer-term ambition rather than a signal that he is seeking to cut short his first season at the Etihad.
His arrival also comes at a turbulent moment for Manchester City. An independent commission has found the club guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules, although the club has appealed and the question of sanctions remains unresolved. No punishment has yet been announced.
There is no indication that Fernández’s stated desire to return to River is connected to that case. His message was instead framed as a personal commitment to a club that shaped his career, with the player making clear that he expects to honour it when the time comes.