‘We fought to achieve our dreams': Fabinho on Diogo Jota and leaving Liverpool
'It was very difficult to absorb because he had a routine and a life just like mine,' Fabinho says. 'When that happens, you put yourself in that situation. We've lived through a period together. We fought to achieve our dreams. Professional dreams, but personal dreams too. We had a lot in common. And then you think about it. There's no way round it. It makes you think that life is but a breath.'
Fabinho is talking from Spain, preparing with Al-Ittihad for his third season in the Saudi Pro League. Since joining the Portuguese club Rio Ave at the age of 18, he has lived outside Brazil. Over the following 13 years, he has become accustomed to the rhythms of travelling and working in football, but Jota's death has changed his outlook.
'Whether you like it or not, you start to appreciate the details of your life,' he says. 'I'm a guy who tries to make the most of the life I have with my family. I'm very grateful to God. But when something like this happens, you start to value even more what really matters.'
At Liverpool Fabinho enjoyed the most successful years of his career. He won the Champions League in his first campaign and was again a key player the following season as the club secured a first top-flight title in 30 years. Leaving in 2023 was not easy.
'Liverpool is a sensational club that helps us with everything,' he says. 'Not just on the pitch but in your life too. Everything they've done for me and my family has been spectacular; I've never seen anything like it. Everywhere you go, not only in England, the supporters show a lot of love for the club and the players.'
Fabinho's departure surprised many. First, because of his perceived importance: he made 219 appearances in five years, almost always as a first choice. Second, because it was not common for high-profile players to leave the Premier League for Saudi Arabia. He details, for the first time, what influenced his decision.
'I didn't want to leave the club and go to any other club in Europe,' he says. 'I thought it was the best place in the world to play, to keep developing as a player. I wanted my legacy and my history at the club to grow even more but our last season was very gruelling, tiring. We didn't do well and failed to qualify for the Champions League. I lost my position as a starter for a few games, but that happens.
'I came back for the following season, even though the previous one hadn't been good, with a very good mentality and wanting to fight for the Premier League title again. But before the season started, Al-Ittihad made an offer for me and the Liverpool directors said it was very good for the club and for me. I was afraid and decided to wait to see what [the coaching staff] would say. I thought I was an important player and that they would refuse any offer, but I realised that the club was open to selling me.'
Fabinho next asked Jürgen Klopp for his thoughts. The manager was a huge admirer, to the point that he had described Fabinho as one of the best No 6s in the world and criticised Tite for rarely using him for Brazil. The conversation they had came as a disappointment.
'He called me and asked me what I wanted,' Fabinho says. 'I said that I'd heard the offer and liked it but that I wanted to hear from him what he thought. He said that if there are any players who want to leave, he won't hold them back. It was a speech that kind of opened the door for me to leave. That conversation with the coach could have kept me at the club but he left it open and I didn't like it very much. I always like to do a prayer before I make my decisions. Liverpool is a club I love but the things that happened at the time steered my life towards Arabia. I left in peace and happy with my decision.'
At Al-Ittihad, Fabinho has not lost his golden touch. In May a player who helped Monaco to a first league win in 17 years and was part of Liverpool's long-awaited Premier League triumph celebrated the title with the Jeddah-based club, coached by Laurent Blanc. He last played for Brazil in December 2022 but dreams of a call-up from Carlo Ancelotti.
'My goal is to play in the [2026] World Cup,' the 31-year-old says. 'I'm working towards it. I performed very well last season. That made me very happy and I was able to show myself that I still have a lot of quality and that I can help the Brazilian national team.'
Fabinho is also looking to the future and thinking about coaching. 'I'm starting to take a more boring view of football. Boring isn't the word; I think it's more demanding. When you want to win, you have to be more demanding. I'm very demanding, I've had a lot of experience in my career and what has always helped me is my tactical vision and my game reading.
'It's something I enjoy. I like watching games, observing and studying. I don't know if this will make me a coach, but it's something I really like and want to work on. I'm going to do a course to become a coach. I started to study it when I was at Liverpool but I didn't finish. I'm going to prepare for that. Whether or not I go on [to coach professionally], that's another story.'
He has role models to draw from if it comes to it. Despite not liking that chat with Klopp, the German remains his inspiration. 'I really like Klopp's idea, with his style that many people say is like rock'n'roll. It's the style I've most enjoyed playing and watching. I have always been impressed by Tite as well. His set pieces are very good, he's a coach who works a lot on the details. Today, with Blanc, I like the relationship he has with the players. He knows how to manage a team. But when people ask me who is my best coach I already had, I always say the coach I've won the most with. And that's Klopp.'
Fabinho has a year on his contract and extending that deal is among the possibilities under consideration. 'I'm happy at Al-Ittihad, I really like here,' he says. 'The Brazilian league is also an option – it is getting stronger and stronger – but I also want to go back to Europe. I want to play and fight for another Champions League title. The Premier League is still the best league in the world, but I think I'd prioritise another country that I haven't had the chance to play in yet.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal to seal Eze deal, Liverpool's Isak and Guehi wait, Man Utd latest
The opening weekend of Premier League matches has given plenty of teams a wake-up call when it comes to summer transfers. And now, as all 20 sides prepare to return to action, work is being done to get those last few deals over the line. Eberechi Eze has been a man in demand all summer, and the expiry of his release clause hasn't changed that one bit. Tottenham had looked to be in pole position to sign the England international but Arsenal have now stolen a march. Reigning champions Liverpool have been among the busiest in the league, but they might not be done. Alexander Isak's statement on Tuesday night could accelerate a move to Anfield for the Newcastle star, while a move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi remains possible. Unlike Liverpool and Arsenal, Manchester United made a losing start to the campaign. A new central midfielder could be on the cards, even if Carlos Baleba is out of their price range, while they could also rival Manchester City for goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Stay with Mirror Football for all your transfer needs as we move that bit closer to deadline day.
Daily Mirror
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Alexander Isak told reality of Liverpool situation as Arne Slot gets two transfer instructions
Alexander Isak has been linked with a move to Newcastle United this summer as he has made it clear that he wants to leave Newcastle, but the grass on Merseyside may not be greener for the striker Michael Owen has warned Alexander Isak that he may not walk into Liverpool's starting XI if he gets his move. The Newcastle United striker revealed on Tuesday evening that he wants to leave his current club after a drawn-out transfer saga. Isak claimed that promises made by the club had been broken as he hopes to explore his options away from St James' Park, in a blistering social media statement. It comes after the 25-year-old was absent from Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia, and was instructed to train alone when he returned to Tyneside earlier this month. The talisman is reportedly refusing to turn out for the Magpies again in a bid to quickly ensure a move, but club legend Owen has warned him that the grass may not be greener on Merseyside. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football via 247Bet, the 45-year-old, who played for the Reds between 1996 and 2004, said: "I mean, you look at Liverpool 's front three. "Nobody's going to take Mohamed Salah's place, Cody Gakpo 's probably been the most improved player. He's played exceptionally well on the left, and then you've got [Hugo] Ekitike that looks an absolute brilliant signing. "I mean, in two games he's played, he's been right up there, probably Man of the Match in both games. So it's hard to see anybody breaking through and getting into the team from that point of view." Having clinched the Premier League Golden Boot with 29 goals last term, Salah is showing no signs of slowing down and remains one of the first names on Arne Slot's team-sheet at present. Gakpo has also started the new season bright, scoring in Liverpool's 4-2 opening night win over Bournemouth last week. Ekitike, meanwhile, is a fresh face at Anfield but has hit the ground running since his £79million move from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer. The centre-forward found the back of the net in the Reds' Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace earlier this month, before opening the scoring for his side against Bournemouth. Isak's arrival in the north west will leave Slot with a substantial headache, given that his front three are practically unplayable at present and will take some shifting if they carry on in their current vein of form. However, Owen did admit that Slot is still lacking depth within his squad in two positions in particular. He added: "We all know the tragic situation with Diogo Jota, and then [Darwin] Nunez left, and then [Luis] Diaz as well. So Liverpool are down three players out of those, and definitely need reinforcements. "I mean, [Federico] Chiesa came on and scored [against Bournemouth], but he was sort of sixth choice out of those three positions last season. All of a sudden, he's possibly fourth. "So you would say that Liverpool need at least one more attacking player to play in one of those positions, whether that's a starting player or a player to come on and change things. But they are quite light, despite all the transfers that they've had, they still probably need a centre-half and an attacking player." It comes as Liverpool are currently in pursuit of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi as they look to add depth in their backline. While Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are thought to be the Dutchman's first choices, the squad looks quite bare in reserve, especially after the recent departure of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen. Isak could ultimately prove fruitful either as a starting striker under Slot or as a rotational player alongside Ekitike, but given the fee that Liverpool may have to cough up to sign the Swede, they would be wise not to deploy him from the bench. Liverpool saw an initial bid of £110million plus add-ons rejected for Isak earlier this month, with the Magpies valuing him at around £150m. But with Isak's recent comments signalling that he is looking for the exit on Tyneside, Newcastle may offer a little wiggle room on their valuation to offload the player who seemingly has no future with his current club.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool transfer news: Alexander Isak finds new hope as Reds sanction Anfield exit
Alexander Isak to Liverpool remains the talk of the transfer window depsite Newcastle's apparent unwillingness to do business while Arne Slot could still see more changes to his squad in the coming days Liverpool have enjoyed a relentless transfer window thus far. After kicking the summer off with Trent Aleander-Arnold's exit, the Reds moved quickly to transform Arne Slot's squad in his second summer in charge. Figures such as Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez have arrived, while Anfield has said farewell to Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz. There has been significant change as Liverpool set out to retain their title. But the final week or so is set to be dominated by Alexander Isak with Slot's team even set to face Newcastle in that time. The Reds remain ready to make an offer but have yet to be encouraged to do so by Newcastle. "As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired," said Newcastle in a statement following Isak speaking out. "We do not foresee those conditions being met." With that said, Mirror Football takes a look at the latest transfer news and rumours. Isak opportunity It appeared as if Newcastle held all the cards in the Alexander Isak saga, but that could all be different next summer. There are still three years remaining on the Swede's contract at St James' Park but if Liverpool can wait anotheer season, they will have a fine opportunity to get their man. That is because of the Lassana Diarra verdict and the interim changes to Article 17 of FIFA's Regulations on the Transfer and Status of Players. This would allow Isak to move without the say-so of his club, in a manner more similar to an everyday employee, per ESPN. Article 17 can be invoked within 15 days of the final match of the season by players who have fulfilled three years under contract at a club. It would allow Isak to depart in a unilateral breach of contract, and Newcastle would still be entitled to compensation. That figure would be an uncertain one decided by the Dispute Resolution Chamber of FIFA's Football Tribunal if clubs can't come to an agreement. It could even seee Isak intially move for free, while a compensation fee is hashed out in a process that could take 18 months to 2 years. Reds exit Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas is the latest player set for a permanent exit from Anfield. The 19-year-old is being chased by Birmingham City and Wrexham after a successful spell on loan with Stoke City last season, per The newly promoted sides are joined by Sheffield United, Norwich City, Preston North End and Hull City in holding an interest. It is Birmingham and Wrexham, who lead the pursuit for Koumas however. The teenager was absent from the under-21s' Premier League 2 defeat at Leicester City on Monday evening and is expected to depart before the transfer deadline. Guehi theory Sean Dyche has suggested that Crystal Palace may have reneged on an agreement to sell Marc Guehi this summer. The defender has been the subject of transfer interest from Liverpool and is with the final year of his contract. Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Dyche said: 'When you make a lot of signings, you do the agreement for their contract, but we'll sort out a gentleman's agreement where we say we'll honour the player with an agreement off the record. 'Now you never know whether that's been said there. With Guehi, and I imagine this is what's happened, probably a year ago, they said, 'Look, we get it, you're going to stick with us'. And last summer, he stuck with it. Again at Christmas, he stuck with it. They might have said, 'By next summer, we'll know what's going to happen'. 'And if he's a good professional, which he seems fantastic to me, he doesn't want to go out there and start saying all that. But at one point, he might have to go, 'Hang on a minute, they told me that if we do this, this, and this, then they'll let me have my chance'."
