Fabinho admits he was shocked by compatriot Roberto Firmino’s decision to leave Liverpool.
The Brazilian forward has called time on his glittering eight-year stay with the Reds. His last game for the club comes this weekend when Jurgen Klopp’s side travel to already-relegated Southampton.
Firmino, whose contract runs out this summer, will leave Liverpool in no doubt about how much he is adored by his team-mates and supporters. That much was clear on Saturday before and after he fittingly scored the Reds’ equaliser in the 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa. It was the 31-year-old’s final appearance at Anfield.
Firmino will be followed out of the Reds exit door by fellow Champions League and Premier League winners James Milner, Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, who also see their contracts expire next month.
But it’s arguably the talismanic forward’s impending departure that has brought the most outpouring of emotion. And Fabinho, in an interview with Sky Sports News, has admitted Firmino’s exit has surprised the squad.
“This season, we were always asking him when he would sign a new contract: ‘Come on, we want you to sign and stay with us’. We didn’t expect him to go,” said the midfielder, who plays alongside Firmino for the Brazil national team.
“He’s 31 years old so he has a lot to do. He can still play his best football at that age, he’s young.
“We didn’t expect this decision to be made but he had to go and sometimes we saw that he was not happy because of the injuries as well. He’s someone who usually doesn’t get injured and he struggled a little bit with the injuries.
“We already know he won’t stay, it was an emotional week for all of us and the only thing is I wish the very best for him and his family.”
Liverpool ace Salah: I’m totally devastated; absolutely no excuse
Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah was left floored after their top four failure was confirmed last night.
Manchester United’s 4-1 rout of Chelsea confirmed their Champions League qualification and ended Liverpool’s hopes in the process.
Salah posted to social media in the aftermath: “I’m totally devastated. There’s absolutely no excuse for this. We had everything we needed to make it to next year’s Champions League and we failed.
“We are Liverpool and qualifying to the competition is the bare minimum. I am sorry but it’s too soon for an uplifting or optimistic post.
“We let you and ourselves down.”
