"I will go back to Brazil. I decided with my family, which is the most important for me,” he said simply in the understated manner with which he had always conducted himself.
He didn’t leave before the perfect goodbye though, starting again at the heart of the defence in a dramatic final day comeback with Aston Villa to edge out Liverpool and win yet another title.
He’d said his piece before the game, stating: “I couldn’t imagine being here for such a long time.
“Since Pep came, the way City started to play under him was completely different.
“A different level. The first season we struggled a little bit, but the second season we were flying.
“New players came in and we changed everything. We discovered this hunger to win games and perform well to win trophies.
“How will I look back on my time here? I think one word can describe it: proud. Since the first day, the intention was to win trophies and then we did it.
“The whole group, the whole team and the whole staff were involved and when I look back, I feel really proud. Everything I planned, we did.
“The fans have been amazing since my first day here.
“Really respectful, polite, supportive. Every time I go into town or the park for a walk with my kids, they show their respect and their support.
“This is amazing and really nice. I am not sure if you can find fans like this in another place or other teams.
“My family and I, we were always treated really well here in Manchester.
“That is why I spent nine years here as the kids were settled in school with friends, my wife was settled as well.
“They are going to be City fans for sure. I could be Mancunian!
“You never know in the future. Maybe I could come back here to spend more time in Manchester. We will see.”