Former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho has hinted at a possible return to European football, suggesting he would be open to joining Real Madrid and reuniting with two fellow ex-Reds. The 32-year-old, who left Anfield for Al-Ittihad in a £40m move in 2023, is soon to be out of contract in the Saudi Pro League and is exploring his options.
Fabinho's Visit to Madrid Sparks Speculation
After Brazil were eliminated from the World Cup by Norway in the round of 16, Fabinho flew to Madrid to spend time with family and friends. While in the Spanish capital, he was approached by El Chiringuito TV and asked about his plans for next season. Fabinho told reporter Marcos Benito: “My contract with Al-Ittihad is coming to an end, but I’m coming to Madrid because I have family here and we’ll be staying here for a while. When the World Cup ended, I wasn’t really sure what to do or where to go, but we decided to come here to be close to our family here in Spain. And it’s really nice here, too, so we’ll stay here for a little while.”
Open to Real Madrid Move
When pressed on whether he would like to play for Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho, Fabinho responded: “Man, Real Madrid. Who wouldn’t want to play for Madrid? It’s the biggest team in the world. But as for my situation, as I told you, I have time to think about it now. I’m going to talk to my agents and see what happens. Right now I don’t have anything lined up so there’s not much point in talking about teams or team names, but it’s a league I’d generally like to come and play in.”
Potential Reunion with Ex-Liverpool Stars
Fabinho is no stranger to the Bernabeu, having spent a season on loan with Real Madrid early in his career, making just one senior appearance. Should his dream of a return materialise, he would join former Liverpool teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate, who both moved to Madrid in recent years. Fabinho won six major honours with Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, including the Premier League and Champions League, before winning a league and cup double with Al-Ittihad in the 2024-25 season.
