'I wanted to stay at Liverpool but what Jurgen Klopp said changed my transfer stance'
Fabinho confessed that he was reluctant to leave Liverpool when he sealed his move to Al-Ittihad during the summer of 2023. The Brazilian midfielder joined the Saudi Pro League club in a £40million transfer after five years at Anfield.
The 31-year-old played in 219 matches throughout his spell with the Reds, netting 11 goals and providing nine assists. He was instrumental as Liverpool triumphed in the Premier League, Champions League, League Cup, and European Super Cup.
However, Fabinho's performances declined during his final campaign with the Reds as Jurgen Klopp's squad failed to secure Champions League qualification. Liverpool embarked on a midfield overhaul during the summer of 2023, acquiring Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch for slightly more than £151m.
Fabinho was among several midfield exits, as Jordan Henderson was also offloaded to Saudi Arabia, while James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all departed as free agents. Reflecting on his exit, Fabinho admitted he was unwilling to leave and hadn't anticipated Liverpool being prepared to sell him. However, following discussions with Klopp, he decided it was the right time to move on.
"Liverpool is a sensational club that helps us with everything," he told the Guardian. "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.
"I didn't want to leave the club and go to any other club in Europe. 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."
"He (Jurgen Klopp) called me and asked me what I wanted. I said that I'd heard the offer and liked it but that I wanted to hear from him what he thought," Fabinho added.
"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."
Since his departure from Liverpool, Fabinho has become a key player for Al-Ittihad, making 67 appearances and playing a crucial role in their Saudi Pro League and King's Cup double last season. However, with an eye on a potential return to the Brazil national team for the 2026 World Cup, he hasn't completely ruled out a return to European football, although a Premier League comeback seems unlikely.
"My goal is to play in the [2026] World Cup," he said. "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. I'm happy at Al-Ittihad, I really like it here. 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."
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