‘Leaving Liverpool wasn’t easy – I was very comfortable and had three years remaining on my deal, so I didn’t need to go. But I’m happy with my decision’: Former Reds midfielder opens up on swapping Anfield for Saudi Arabia

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: The Liverpool team line up, back row l-r, Alisson Becker, Ibrahima Konate, Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk, Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold, front row l-r, Thiago Alcantara, James Milner, Curtis Jones, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Mohamed Salah during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Liverpool FC and SSC Napoli at Anfield on November 1, 2022 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images).

Liverpool sold Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and Fabinho to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023, but while former captain Henderson lasted just six months, the two Brazilians are still going strong in the Middle East.

There were complications for Fabinho, however, and not just because he was arguably still in the middle of his peak years as a professional.