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Fabinho: Liverpool midfielder joins Saudi side Al-Ittihad

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Brazil midfielder Fabinho has completed a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad from Liverpool on a three-year deal.

The 29-year-old did not travel with the Reds to a recent training camp in Germany after the Saudi side made a £40m bid for him.

Fabinho was also left out of the club’s current trip to Singapore as the move was finalised.

Capped 29 times by his country, he joined Liverpool in July 2018 from Monaco for a fee in the region of £39m.

Fabinho said he was leaving his “home” after representing Liverpool “with the greatest honour and happiness possible” for five years.

He added: “I say this with a heart full of joy: I love this club. Thank you, Reds, for everything we’ve experienced together.”

Fabinho is Al-Ittihad’s latest high-profile signing this summer as part of a widespread influx of players into the Saudi Pro League.

Ballon d’Or winner and former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and ex-Celtic forward Jota have all joined the club managed by ex-Wolves and Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Al-Ittihad said Fabinho’s signing is part of their effort to “reinforce the team with outstanding players, who will support their journey in the upcoming phase, which includes multiple domestic and international competitions”.

Fabinho made 219 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 11 goals.

During his time with the Reds, he helped the club win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup.

“We would like to thank Fabinho for all of his contributions to the club’s successes during the last five years,” said Liverpool.

Fellow midfielder Jordan Henderson has also left the Merseyside club to move to Saudi Arabia, with the England international joining Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq.

Liverpool have now lost five midfielders on a permanent basis this summer, with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita also departing after their contracts expired.

Centre-back Virgil van Dijk has, meanwhile, replaced Henderson as Liverpool captain, with defender Trent Alexander-Arnold taking over as vice-captain from Milner.

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BREAKING! Saud Arabia Club Eyes Osimhen For Record Breaking Deal, To Be Third Highest Paid Player

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What Happened At Victor Osimhen Galatasaray Unveiling, Details Emerge

Few months to complete Galatasaray loan deal, good news have been coming for the hardworking Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, after an unnamed club in Saudi Arabia ready to offers more money, SMI reports exclusively.

Details Later…

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Juventus Told To Loan Manchester United Flop In January 

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Former Italian striker Paolo Di Canio believes Juventus would do well to snap up the services of Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee.

The 23-year-old rose to prominence during his time at Bologna, and there were rumors linking him with the Bianconeri last summer, especially following the appointment of his mentor Thiago Motta.

Nevertheless, the Dutchman ended up sealing a big-money move to Old Trafford, but he’s been struggling for form and goals in his early days in the Premier League.

So in his interview with Tuttosport (via IlBianconero), Di Canio suggests a loan move to Juventus, as he believes Zirkzee would struggle with the the fast-paced EPL.

“I would loan Zirkzee from Manchester United. They’ve been making crazy choices for several years and none of them are working, not even Zirkzee who’s a bit too slow for the Premier League.

“Perhaps he’ll prove me wrong with goals and great performances, but in England, they attack you straight away and whistle 30% fewer fouls. In Italy, we saw his impact on Bologna. In the end, amidst the confusion at United, they could even loan him out. They already have Hojlund, and then there’s Rashford who can play as a striker.

“He’d be the perfect profile for Juventus, also because it would allow Motta to have a striker with different characteristics to Vlahovic. Zirkzee isn’t a devastating scorer, he’s not someone who can score 25 goals, but he help others play well.”

The former Lazio and West Ham striker also insists Juventus summer signing Douglas Luiz is a “top player” despite a slow start to life in Italian football.

“I said that Juventus has signed a top player, and I am still convinced of it. However, what I saw here is a distant relative, he is unrecognisable. Beyond the 50 million valuation, which for me is also a fair price, he is truly a different player compared to the one I saw at Aston Villa.

“I don’t blame the player or the coach, I don’t know what the situation is, but there could be a psychological problem. But I have no doubts about the player’s professsionalism. At Aston Villa, he was an idol and they loved him. Perhaps sitting on the bench saddened him. It’s normal that Thiago now prefers Locatelli who is more focused, more attentive, quicker in the head and on the foot.”

 

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Barcelona, Manchester City Battle For Napoli Midfielder 

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Stanislav Lobotka has continued to shine under Antonio Conte and continues to be on the radar on major clubs, for instance, Barcelona and Manchester City. The Blaugrana have been monitoring for a few years, Mundo Deportivo relays (via OneFootball).

The Sky Blues have begun eyeing him lately after losing Rodri to a season-ending knee injury. The English champions have set sights on Samuele Ricci too. The interest is reciprocated by the Torino midfielder.

Napoli are in the driver’s set concerning the future of Lobotka. He’s under contract until 2027 with an option for a one extra year. His agent has occasionally hinted at a move to other sides. Though, it has never been particularly close since he’s been essential in recent seasons.

The Partenopei paid €23M to acquire the maestro from Celta Vigo in January 2020. He became a fixture in 2021/2022. He raised the level of his game to elite levels with Luciano Spalletti on the bench. The midfielder has racked up 172 appearances, scoring twice and providing 3 assists. He has 61 caps and 4 gals with Slovakia.

 

 

Our Take on Lobotka, Manchester City, and Barcelona

He’d be perfect to replace Rodri, but he’s about as untouchable as it gets. In standard situations, a large offer from a player who’s pushing 30 would be evaluated, as it’d be the last chance to profit on him, but the Azzurri haven’t paid much attention to their finances since hiring Antonio Conte, who’d surely veto his departure. The player would have to come out and declare his intention to leave for something to happen. He might at some point down the line after a long spell, but it’d be a stunner if it happened anytime soon

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