Fabinho has left a number of high-profile names out of his best XI of former team-mates as seven Liverpool stars get the nod
Fabinho has included seven of his former Liverpool team-mates in his best XI he has played alongside. However, he still couldn’t find room for Sadio Mane and a number of other high-profile names in a star-studded line-up from Anfield and beyond.
The Brazil international joined the Reds from AS Monaco in a £39m deal in the summer of 2018, and went on to win every major prize during his five years at the club. Making 219 appearances, he departed for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad in a £40m deal in July 2023.
Asked to pick his best XI of former team-mates by One Football, unsurprisingly, Fabinho’s selected side proved to be Liverpool-dominated.
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However, he left out the likes of Mane, Joel Matip and Gini Wijnaldum. They should not be offended, though, as he also could not find room for the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante.
The majority of his Brazil team-mates were also left out, including Vini Jr, Marcelo and Kaka, along with the likes of Angel Di Maria, Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Iker Casillas from his time at Real Madrid.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was given the nod in goal, with Fabinho opting for his former team-mate for club and country over Manchester City counterpart Ederson. Meanwhile, the Reds dominated the back four with Thiago Silva selected alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.
Naming himself as the defensive midfielder, the Brazilian showcased how much he rates former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson by naming the Ajax midfielder in his dream XI. To complete the engine-room, he also selected Reds pantomime villain Bernardo Silva, having played with the Man City star at AS Monaco.
Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were both named in attack, but Fabinho decided against reuniting the entire famous Liverpool front three. Instead he opted for Neymar on the left-wing.
While Vini Jr. might have been overlooked by the Brazilian, Fabinho did admit he had been upset to see his compatriot miss out on winning the Ballon d’Or.
“I was (upset). In my opinion, Vini deserve to win this Ballon d’Or,” he said. “I also congratulated Rodri, who had a good season, won the prize, won the Euro.
“But personally I think Vini deserved it. He performed better in the season, but there’s not much we can do.”
Meanwhile, Fabinho also opened the door to making a ‘dream’ return to the Brazil national team.
“Yes, I still dream of returning to the Brazil national team,” he admitted. “I didn’t say that (Dorival Jr.) doesn’t look at the Saudi Pro League.
“I said he looks less, but I hope he still looks at the Saudi Pro League. There are a lot of good Brazilian players here. Malcolm, what he’s doing here, I think deserves to go to the Selecao.
“In my case, I’m playing well too. I hope they’re looking at us… I hope that the Selecao will continue to improve with players from the Saudi Pro League.”
Fabinho has been capped 29 times by Brazil, but hasn’t played for his country since the 2022 World Cup. He won his final cap in the group-stages against Cameroon that December, but hasn’t been called up since leaving Liverpool.
Fabinho dream XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Thiago Silva, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Bernardo Silva; Salah, Firmino, Neymar.
