Fernandinho is in talks about a return to Brazil with his first club Athletico Paranaense at the end of the season.
Manchester City's veteran midfielder is interested in the move to extend his career and take his family back to the state where he was born.
'I want to play, I will go back to Brazil,' said the 36-year-old before City's Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid. 'I decided with my family, which is the most important thing for me.'
Fernandinho joined Manchester City in 2013, signed for £34million from Shakhtar Donetsk, and became the most decorated Brazilian in the history of English football.
He turned professional in 2003 at Athletico Paranaense, where he scored 14 goals in 83 matches before leaving for Europe.
Last year, before signing a one-year contract extension at Manchester City, Fernandinho had already opened talks with Athletico for a return, before deciding it would be best to stay in England.
'I always saw the possibility of returning,' he said in May last year and, in an interview for GloboEsporte.com in March while in Brazil, Fernandinho spoke again about his interest in returning to Athletico.
Manchester City are understood to be keen to help the Brazilian after nine years of service as they did when David Silva returned to Spain.