Born in Alto Paraiso de Goias in central Brazil, Fernando, like many in the futebol nation, will have been engrossed with the beautiful game immediately.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Margaret Thatcher had just won her third general election but there was plenty more going on.
Top of the charts
1. Madonna – Who’s That Girl
2. Pet Shop Boys – It’s A Sin
3. Atlantic Starr – Always
4. Bruce Willis – Under The Boardwalk
5. Los Lobos – La Bamba
Box office
Sci-fi film Robocop, starring Peter Weller and Nancy Allen, was the most watched movie of the week.
Birthdays
It turns out July 25th 1987 wasn’t a stellar day for the birth of future stars but there are a couple of well-known names that Fernando can at least share his birthday with. Friends star and now Top Gear host Matt LeBlanc was born on this day in 1967 whereas Brazilian striker Hulk is exactly one year older than his compatriot.
British Transfer Record
In June 1987, Ian Rush, Liverpool’s goalgetter, moved to Italian giants Juventus for £3.2m.
World transfer record
Earlier that month Dutch international Ruud Gullit moved from PSV Eindhoven to AC Milan for £6m.
League champions
Everton won the First Division title before manager Howard Kendall departed for Basque club Athletic Bilbao.
City in July 1987
The Blues were preparing for life back in the second tier of English football after a poor season under Jimmy Frizzell ended in relegation. Frizzell was then moved into a role as General Manager of the club, while Mel Machin took over the first team duties ahead of the 1987/88 season.
That first year back in the Second Division – as it was then termed – proved to be one of consolidation, with the Blues finishing 9th.
Steve Redmond, David White and Andy Hinchcliffe were City’s most consistent performers throughout the season while Paul Stewart finished the year as top scorer with 28 goals.
