Fabinho has admitted that the Liverpool squad were left shocked and unhappy after realizing his fellow Brazilian team-mate, Firmino was leaving this summer.
Moreover, he has revealed the main reason behind the Brazilian striker choosing not to extend his contract.
After an uneventful season, Liverpool sits 5th in the table and haven’t qualified for UCL football next season. Be it the 7th season Klopp-curse or injuries to crucial players or just inconsistency, the truth is that the Reds have been a shadow of their former selves.
They have nothing to show for this season, not even a Champions League spot. However, they do have a Community Shield trophy when they won against City all the way back in July 2022.
While Pep and his men have bounced off from the defeat pretty well, Klopp’s army have slumped this season.
‘We didn’t expect this’: Fabinho on Firmino leaving Liverpool
While many expect new signings for the next season, many were amazed by Firmino’s decision to leave Anfield. He stayed at the club for 8 years and has won everything there is to win with Liverpool.
The Brazilian moved from Hoffenheim at the age of 23 as a promising young talent. Many legends including Ronaldinho spoke highly of Firmino when the Reds secured his signing.
However, he has remained a fan favourite even after the club-record signing of Uruguayan striker, Darwin Nunez. While Nunez didn’t fully showcase his Benfica form, the fans could expect much better from him in the upcoming seasons.
While speaking to Sky Sports News, the fellow Brazilian team-mate admitted he and his Liverpool teammates “didn’t expect” Firmino to leave.
“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.
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.”
Firmino himself is said to have decided to part ways and not push for a new contract. His game-time was slashed over the last two seasons, due to injuries.
Fabinho revealed the once-rarely injured Firmino struggled with being unable to help his teammates while resigned to the treatment table.
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