Liverpool underwent a major overhaul in the summer of 2023 which saw a number of stalwarts leave the club.
The season prior to the window was an absolutely dreadful one, as the Reds finished outside the Champions League places for the first time since 2016.
Players such as James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain began to look long past their best, while there was a surprise drop-off in the form of Fabinho as well.
Seen as one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet prior to the 2022/23 campaign, Fabinho’s decline became a symbol of the end of an era at Anfield.
Ultimately, it was not a surprise when the Brazilian was sold in the summer, with Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia his destination.
After two years in the Middle East, and with a league title win under his belt, Fabinho has now spoken on the events leading up to his Liverpool exit, and it doesn’t read brilliantly for Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp consoles Fabinho after the 2022 UEFA Champions League final in Paris
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images
Jurgen Klopp could have kept Fabinho at Liverpool
After Klopp himself left Liverpool in 2024, he openly admitted that he was ready to go after the 2022/23 season.
The campaign had just about worn everyone out, but the former Liverpool manager could see that the club needed a rebuild and wanted to lead it.
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Initially, it seemed as though Fabinho would be a part of that, but as he told The Guardian this weekend, once the offer from Saudi Arabia came in, Klopp ‘opened the door’ for him to go.
“He called me and asked me what I wanted,” says the 31-year-old. “I said that I’d heard the offer and liked it but that I wanted to hear from him what he thought.”
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“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,” Fabinho admits. “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.”
Fabinho ready to return to Europe
After two years in the Saudi Pro League, it is difficult to say what Fabinho’s current level is.
Season Appearances Goals Assists Trophies
2018/19 41 1 2 Champions League
2019/20 39 2 4 Premier League
2020/21 42 0 0 /
2021/22 48 8 1 FA Cup, League Cup
2022/23 49 0 2 /
Fabinho’s Liverpool career
He no longer looked ready to compete at the top of the game in 2023, and if he makes a return to Europe, it will likely be with a club a level or two below Liverpool.
Nevertheless, that is what Fabinho is aiming for. According to the Reds’ former No. 3, he is plotting a return to Europe.
“I’m happy at Al-Ittihad, I really like it here,” says Fabinho. “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.”