Liverpool midfielder Fabinho was photographed meeting with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez on Tuesday night, but that sounds much more dire than it actually was.
Actually, it looked to be a relatively simple encounter.
Liverpool lost 3-1 away to the Spanish giants in the Champions League in midweek.
After the game, Fabinho met up with fellow Brazilian Vincius Junior – who scored twice in the game – and the Blancos’ president happened to stop by.
Florentino Perez holding Vini’s hand & Fabinho. pic.twitter.com/5X8PLC2hS6
— R•Madrid Pics ? (@RM_Pictures) April 7, 2021
Fabinho was also in the media zone and was speaking with his compatriot when Perez arrived, with the trio pictured sharing a laugh after the game.
The 27-year-old actually spent a season with Madrid when he first arrived in Europe, with Jose Mourinho in charge at the time, before then moving to Monaco – with transfer guru Luis Campos the architect of both deals.
After three more years at Monaco, Fabinho would go on to join Liverpool in a £39m deal, and after a rocky start to life in England, he has fulfilled the potential Perez seemingly saw in him when he brought him to Real all those years ago.
Perez remembered Fabinho from his brief time at the club despite the Brazilian having made just one single appearance for the first team, with the rest of his outings coming for the Castilla side.
Fabinho cost us 39 million. In two years has delivered us
UCL
Super Cup
World Club Cup
Premier LeagueBargain signing
— Homes (@LFC_Wahome) June 25, 2020
According to Marca, Perez made reference to Fabinho’s transformation from right-back to the defensive midfielder, saying: “I remember with us you played as a right-back.”
Fabinho is then alleged to have replied: “Yes, but to play right-back now… What a player you have in Vinicius.”
Vinicius’ performance marks a dramatic turnaround from earlier in the competition when he was slated by teammate Karim Benzema for his performance against Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage.
Fabinho will be hoping for a better performance from Liverpool when Real come to Anfield for the return leg on April 14, when they will have their work cut out for them to overturn a 3-1 deficit.
