MOSCOW, Jul 18 Former defender of CSKA Moscow and Russian national football team Mario Fernandez is close to signing a contract with Brazil's Santos, according to journalist Ademir Quintinho on Twitter. Fernandez announced in May that he was suspending his contract with CSKA and returning to Brazil. According to the 31-year-old defender, his decision is not related to the events in the world, the player said that he feels the accumulated fatigue and would like to be with his family. Fernandez moved to CSKA from the Brazilian Gremio in 2012. In total, the footballer played 328 matches for the Red-Blues, scoring 10 goals and giving 46 assists. The defender became a three-time champion of Russia with the army team, and also won the Russian Cup and twice the Super Cup. As part of the Russian national team, for which he made his official debut in 2017, Fernandez played 33 matches in which he scored 5 goals, took part in the 2018 home world championship. In September 2021, Fernandez retired from the national team.
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