Former Liverpool midfielder Fabio Carvalho has admitted he was warned by Marco Silva before making his move to Anfield in 2022.
Carvalho moved to Liverpool in the summer of 2022 in a deal worth an initial £5 million, months after the club’s failed attempt to land him in the preceding winter window.
He arrived from Fulham with plenty of promise but, for much of his time under Jurgen Klopp, proved a square peg in a round hole, with opportunities scarce.
He played 21 times in his debut season, with only eight of those coming as starts, and was then sent on two loan spells in a single season before Brentford came calling in 2024.
And the move to Anfield did not live up to his, nor Liverpool’s, hopes, and he has admitted he was warned about just that by then-Fulham manager Silva.
“When I was about to leave for Liverpool, he came to talk to me, and I’ve never forgotten his words,” Carvalho told A Bola in a recent interview.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 25, 2024: Liverpool's Conor Bradley (L) challenges Fábio Carvalho during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“He told me that Liverpool was a great opportunity, but warned that sometimes the grass isn’t always greener. And that stuck with me.
“His honesty and his continued concern for me, showing that he wanted to know about me not only on the pitch. It’s something I value very much.”
It was a premonition that sadly came true, with the now 23-year-old since struggling to rediscover the form that earned him a move to Liverpool, with just 33 appearances for current club Brentford.
Carvalho joined in a deal reportedly worth up to £27.5 million, and after just three months his father and agent, Victor, publicly declared he had “to leave this club” having played just 284 minutes.
He has since had injury curtail his career, with an ACL tear suffered in November marking his latest setback, which will see him miss the start of the new campaign.