Liverpool midfielder Fabinho has admitted that squad were taken aback by Roberto Firmino's decision to leave the club in the summer.
The Brazilian star has become a cult hero at the club since signing from Hoffenheim for £29 million in June 2015, playing 361 games for the Reds and helping them win every major club trophy going. But after opting not to try and negotiate a new contract, he will make his final bow in red at Southampton on Sunday.
There has already been an emotional farewell to Anfield, with the 31-year-old signing off in front of the home fans in style with a late equaliser against Aston Villa last Saturday. And Firmino fought back tears as he left the field, with Jurgen Klopp and co throwing him a leaving party the following day.
There, he was serenaded with his now iconic 'Si Senor' song, with club captain Jordan Henderson leading the way. He was also lavishly praised by Klopp, who once famously described him as "world class every day."
And now Fabinho has explained that his decision was an unexpected one in the eyes of his teammates: "We were always asking Bobby - ‘When do you sign your new contract? Come on we want you to stay here with us’," he told Sky Sports. "We didn’t really expect him to go."
"Bobby is still only 31-years-old so he has a lot to do. He can still play his best football at that age, he's young. So yes, we didn't really expect this decision to be made but (we accept) he has to go. Sometimes we saw he was not happy (this season) because of dangers as well. He's somebody that usually does not get injured but he's has a bit of trouble with the injuries."
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The build-up to the Villa game was dominated by the impending farewell, and he added the squad had to fight to remain composed: "But we already knew he was not going to stay and it was a pretty emotional week, for all of us," he added. "I wish the very best for him and his family."
Firmino's fairytale strike temporarily kept Liverpool's fading Champions League hopes alive, but that ambition was ended on Thursday courtesy of Man United's win over Chelsea. And the striker won't be the only player heading out the door this summer as Klopp seeks to overhaul his squad.
James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are also departing, with the German manager linked to host a names in the transfer market. He's already been forced to admit defeat though in the race for his top target, Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham.
