Brazilian star Fabinho, the midfielder for Saudi club Al-Ittihad, has settled the debate surrounding his professional future, confirming his final stance on returning to the Brazilian league at the present time, coinciding with the approach of the transfer periods, which usually witness intense activity by Brazilian clubs to bring back their professional stars abroad.
According to a report published Saturday by the renowned Brazilian newspaper Globo Esporte, Fabinho currently has no desire to leave the Saudi Professional League or return to his home country, preferring to continue his professional career with Al-Ittihad. This decision comes as a blow to the ambitions of major Brazilian clubs, particularly Palmeiras and Vasco da Gama, who had expressed strong interest in acquiring the player's services to bolster their squads with international experience.
Contract details and Brazilian interest
Fabinho is under contract with Al-Ittihad until the end of the 2025/2026 season, giving the Jeddah-based club significant negotiating power and stability in midfield. Despite serious attempts by Brazilian clubs to exploit any loophole to bring the player back, the 32-year-old believes his project in Saudi Arabia is not yet complete, especially given the high level of competition in the Saudi league.
A busy journey from Liverpool to Jeddah
Fabinho joined Al-Ittihad during the historic summer transfer window of the 2023/2024 season, arriving from Liverpool, where he was a key player in Jürgen Klopp's squad that won the UEFA Champions League and the English Premier League titles. His move to Al-Ittihad is part of a global sporting movement that has seen the Saudi league attract some of the world's biggest stars, adding a significant marketing and technical dimension to the competition.
Fabinho's numbers with Al-Ittihad this season
On a technical level, Fabinho has been delivering consistent performances for the team this season, appearing in 17 matches for Al-Ittihad, scoring one goal and providing two assists for his teammates, totaling 1435 minutes of playing time. These statistics demonstrate the coaching staff's reliance on him as an indispensable element in controlling the tempo of the game and linking the defense with the attack.
Historical background and beginnings of the player
It is worth noting that Fabinho’s professional career started early when he left the youth team of the Brazilian club Fluminense in the 2012/2013 season, to join Rio Ave of Portugal, and from there he embarked on a distinguished European journey that included Real Madrid (Castilla) and Monaco of France, before writing a golden history with Liverpool, and finally settling in Jeddah, currently closing the door on the idea of returning to the starting point in Brazil.
