Latest news with #Fabinho
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I wanted to stay at Liverpool but what Jurgen Klopp said changed my transfer stance'
Fabinho has reflected on his decision to leave Liverpool for Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 and the role that Jurgen Klopp played in the transfer 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."
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fabinho Opens Up on Decision to Leave Liverpool for Al-Ittihad
Fabinho Reflects on Liverpool Exit and Klopp Conversation That Shaped His Future When Fabinho left Liverpool in the summer of 2023, it felt like the end of an era. For five years, the Brazilian patrolled the midfield with a calm authority, playing 219 times and becoming a linchpin in Jürgen Klopp's trophy-winning side. Yet, within the space of a few conversations and a shifting squad plan, one of Liverpool's most reliable figures was on a plane to Saudi Arabia. Midfield Overhaul and Unexpected Departure Liverpool's 2023 summer window brought sweeping changes. James Milner, Jordan Henderson, and Fabinho departed, while Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai arrived to lead a midfield refresh. On paper, it looked like natural evolution. In reality, it was a moment of surprise — especially for a player who never seemed on the fringes. '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,' Fabinho admitted. When Al-Ittihad came calling, Fabinho expected Liverpool to turn down the offer. '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.' Klopp's Words and the Turning Point Before making a decision, Fabinho sought clarity from Klopp himself. 'I said [to him] that I'd heard the offer and liked it but 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.' For Fabinho, that was decisive. '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.' Life Beyond Liverpool Fabinho insists his affection for Liverpool remains. '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.' Now entering his third season with Al-Ittihad, Fabinho is focused on helping his team defend their Saudi Pro League title, secured in May. For Liverpool, his exit was part of a wider transition; for Fabinho, it was the start of a new chapter, shaped not by ambition alone, but by the subtle weight of a manager's words.
The Guardian
09-08-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘We fought to achieve our dreams': Fabinho on Diogo Jota and leaving Liverpool
Fabinho attended Diogo Jota's funeral unable to believe it was all true. His Portuguese friend, with whom he played for three years at Liverpool, had died in a tragic accident alongside André Silva, his brother. The Brazilian found himself reflecting extensively on life and how everything can be lost in a fleeting moment. '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.'
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool's asking price for Darwin Nunez WILL be met
The Saudi Pro League will pay what Liverpool want Liverpool have seen Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino all move from Merseyside to the Middle East and a lot of money is available for the Saudi Pro League (SPL) teams to spend. This is because most of the sides are backed by the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is also currently fuelling Newcastle United, the LIV Golf league and Riyadh Season sport events. As such, if the Saudi teams are interested, then players will be offered absurd wage packages and clubs can feel confident in their ability to get value for money for their outgoing player transfers. Per TBR Football, teams in the region are interested in signing Nunez and they are willing to meet Liverpool's £70m asking price for him - unlike Napoli and the other interested parties in Europe. Their report claims: "Arne Slot spoke to Nunez at length before the end of last season, at which point he was told that he will not feature prominently going forward. It is understood there is no 'bitterness' on his part and he appreciates Slot and Liverpool for being up front with him "Nunez would prefer to stay in Europe, with Atletico Madrid previously showing interest in Nunez, or move to MLS in the United States or South America. However, it is understood that his high cost makes that a difficult option." As such, the key to any deal is going to be the personal terms, because the most ideal suitor for Liverpool is the Saudis and Nunez isn't entirely on board with the idea - yet. Of course, we have seen recently with Jhon Duran's move from Aston Villa to Al Nassr that a move to the Middle East isn't necessarily permanent, as the Colombian is now on loan at Fenerbahce, so a couple of years away might just help get him back into a rhythm before he returns to Europe. Either way, Liverpool will be hoping to secure a move for him that gives them the best financial return on their investment and wherever Nunez goes in future will be up to the player themselves to arrange.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
7 Samba stars to shine in 2024-25 RSL
The Roshn Saudi League has always shared a special relationship with Brazil and thus Brazilian players, with the South American nation supplying a huge number of foreign footballers to the league through the years. From players of yesteryear like Rivellino and Denilson, to modern-day greats such as Neymar and Roberto Firmino, a cavalcade of Brazil's best have called Saudi Arabia home during the years. This past season was no different, with more than 30 Brazilians sprinkled across the league. Advertisement So, to mark the all-Brazilian clash between Palmeiras and Botafogo taking place at the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday, we look at how some of the standout Samba stars from the 2024-25 RSL. -------- Fabinho - Al Ittihad Right at the top, the former Liverpool midfielder walked away with his first RSL title as Al Ittihad dominated the second half of the season to storm away with the top-flight trophy, ultimately heading the league by eight points ahead of second-placed Al Hilal. Capped 29 times by his national team, Fabinho has formed a dynamic relationship with N'Golo Kante in the centre of the park since joining the Jeddah giants back in 2023; together, they form one of the best midfield duos in the league. Advertisement Ranked seventh in the league for passes and sixth for tackles, in every facet of the game Fabinho was crucial to Al Ittihad's title success. Check out the best images from Al Ittihad's title ceremony -------- Marcos Leonardo - Al Hilal The 22-year-old arrived in Riyadh with a burgeoning reputation after his time with both Santos and Benfica, and he showed why during a superb debut season for defending champions Al Hilal. It's never easy coming into a team that has won the title, let alone one that did so by breaking a slew of records, but Leonardo unmistakably made Al Hilal stronger this campaign - especially when deputising devastatingly for the injured Aleksandar Mitrovic. Advertisement Leonardo's 17 goals ranked him seventh in the 2024-25 RSL and included a run of scoring in seven straight games; incredibly, he netted 11 times in that spell from December through to February. Al Hilal's Leonardo celebrates goal v Al Fayha -------- Galeno - Al Ahli It's hard to quantify the difference the former FC Porto winger made for Al Ahli, but it was significant. Arriving only in February, the 27-year-old played 11 games in the RSL and registered three goals and two assists. However, Galeno changed structurally how Al Ahli attacked, which made them significantly more dangerous. With that in mind, it's no coincidence that Ivan Toney scored 16 of his 23 RSL goals – second only to golden boot winner Cristiano Ronaldo – after the Brazilian wideman arrived. Advertisement Undoubtedly, the crowning glory came in winning the AFC Champions League Elite, with Galeno's goal in the final helping Al Ahli claim their first piece of continental silverware. -------- Robert Renan - Al Shabab The name Robert Renan might not have meant as much to a lot of football fans, but the 21-year-old certainly made something of a name for himself at Al Shabab this season. The Brazil youth international arrived in September on loan from Russian side Zenit St Petersburg as an exciting defender full of potential, promptly settled on the left side of the defence for a team that improved under Fatih Terim's tutelage to eventually finish sixth. Advertisement By season's end, Renan not only had three assists to his name - the most of any defender at the club and more than the likes of legendary captain Abderrazak Hamdallah and Giacomo Bonaventura - but also ranked fourth at Al Shabab for passes, and third for both tackles and clearances. -------- Bento - Al Nassr Signing a top-quality goalkeeper was close to the top of Al Nassr's wish list during last summer's transfer window – and, in Bento, they found just what they were looking for. After five seasons in his homeland with Athletico Paranaense, the 26-year-old made the move to Riyadh as Al Nassr looked to go one better than their RSL runners-up finish they had in 2023-24. Advertisement While they couldn't achieve that, ultimately finishing third, that wasn't the fault of Bento, who concluded his first campaign ranked fourth across the league for clean sheets (nine) - ahead of Yassine Bono and Predrag Rajkovic. The Brazil international more than justified that pre-season faith. -------- Vitinho - Al Ettifaq After three seasons in the RSL, the former Flamengo midfielder had his best campaign yet in the Kingdom thanks in large part to Al Ettifaq manager Saad Al Shehri, who replaced Steven Gerrard in January. Used more sparingly by Gerrard at the beginning of the season, the Brazil youth international came alive in Al Shehri's side, with four of his six goals and five of his seven assists coming under the Saudi manager in the back half of the season. Advertisement Recording his most productive season to date, Vitinho was vital to Al Ettifaq shooting up the table from 12th to eventually finish seventh. -------- Lucas Kal - Al Riyadh The 29-year-old could have been described as a journeyman when he landed in the RSL at the beginning of last season from Atletico Goianiense, with Al Riyadh the eighth stop on his career pathway since making his debut for Sao Paolo in 2017. But, having embraced manager Sabri Lamouchi's guidance, Kal impressed in the heart of midfield for a side that oscillated between the top and bottom half of the table throughout the campaign. With three goals and two assists, Kal also ranked third for passes and fourth for tackles at the club - a more-than-respectable return for someone experiencing the Saudi top flight for the first time.
