Liverpool squad rocked by unhappy star’s exit, Fabinho admits ‘we didn’t expect it
Fabinho has confessed that he and his teammates were taken by surprise when a Liverpool departure was confirmed, and the reasons for the player’s dissatisfaction at Anfield have been disclosed.
Following a season that held great promise but only resulted in winning the Community Shield, significant changes are imminent at Liverpool this summer. The first change is happening behind the scenes, as German sporting director Jorg Schmadtke is on the verge of joining the club.
The 59-year-old will initially join on a short-term basis and oversee Liverpool’s transfer activities during the summer. German news outlet BILD recently reported that the club is considering the possibility of signing two or potentially three out of four potential Bundesliga players.
In other news, Liverpool’s midfield is undergoing a significant transformation, as Alexis Mac Allister has already reached an agreement to join the club from Brighton.
More midfield signings are expected, as Arthur Melo, Naby Keita, James Milner, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all set to depart. However, the departure of Roberto Firmino is arguably the most significant loss for Jurgen Klopp’s team.
After an impressive and successful eight-year period with Liverpool, the 31-year-old Brazilian will bid farewell to the club, leaving behind a legacy filled with trophies and accomplishments.
The club has officially confirmed Firmino’s departure, and the striker displayed visible emotions after the final whistle of his last home game against Aston Villa over the weekend.
Liverpool has already made preparations for life without Firmino by acquiring Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo. It appears that they are not actively seeking a new forward during this summer transfer window.
Nevertheless, Firmino’s exit has come as a surprise to the Liverpool squad, despite the club’s proactive measures to plan for his departure.
“We saw that he was not happy” – Fabinho
During an interview with Sky Sports News, Fabinho, a fellow Brazilian teammate, openly admitted that he and his Liverpool colleagues were taken by surprise by Firmino’s departure, as they “didn’t expect” it. Firmino’s contract is set to expire on June 30.
The decision to part ways and not pursue a new contract is said to have originated from Firmino himself. Over the past two seasons, his playing time had decreased, and he had been plagued by injuries, which had started to impact his career.
Fabinho disclosed that Firmino, who was previously known for his durability, struggled with being unable to contribute to the team while being sidelined due to injuries. Additionally, with the arrival of new signings who were being preferred by Klopp, Firmino believed that it was in the best interest of everyone involved that he “had to go.”
“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 Fabinho.
“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.”
Several clubs, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan, have been linked with a potential move for Firmino.
Liverpool squad rocked by unhappy star’s exit, Fabinho admits ‘we didn’t expect it
