Liverpool –
Fabinho is now considered one of Europe’s top defensive midfielders. Long before what it is now, Fabinho was actually a right-back. Lo, how come?
Since strengthening Liverpool in 2018, Fabinho became the soul of the team’s game. Fabinho is irreplaceable in midfield and is always in the line-up if he is not injured.
Fabinho has made 157 appearances across all competitions with nine goals and eight assists. Six of them were made this season which was his most productive season as a Liverpool player.
Naturally, Liverpool extended Fabinho’s contract until 2025 because of his slick performance. However, Fabinho has gone through a difficult period in his career while still strengthening Real Madrid.
He graduated from Real Madrid’s academy but only played in the first team once, before moving to AS Monaco in 2013. It was at the French club that Fabinho started his career as a defensive midfielder.
It was Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim who experimented with playing him in that position, although he initially objected. According to Fabinho, it was an important moment in his career.
“He was the most important coach in my career. My first season with him at Monaco (2014/2015), I was still playing at right-back, then he started to play me in midfield in a few games,” he said. Fabinho to FourFourTwo.
“I remember in pre-season, he asked me if I had played in that position and I said I had. So he played me in that position in a friendly lag and I was the best player in that game,” he continued.
“Initially it was difficult because it was a moment of change in my life. Everyone knew I was a full-back and I was a core player in the national team – my agent, and I started to feel unhappy with this situation. Then, in the end, I just accepted it, because I know I can adapt.”
“Jardim helped me a lot, and in the 2016/2017 season (when Monaco bought Djibril Sidibe as a right-back), we won Ligue 1 and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. That was my best performance and after that I moved to Liverpool.”
“It turned out to be the right decision,” he concluded Fabinho who made 31 goals and 21 assists at Monaco.
(mrp/pur)
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