Klopp excited about bringing Fabinho’s ‘character’ to Liverpool dressing room
0 Fabinho: ‘Football smart’. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp shares his new signing Fabinho’s excitement about the future at Anfield.
On Monday night the Reds announced they had struck a deal with Ligue 1 club Monaco by which Brazilian midfielder Fabinho will move to Liverpool on 1 July.
It is understood the fee paid to Monaco could reach €50 million (£43.7 million) as Fabinho signs a long-term contract with the Champions League finalists.
Fabinho said he was “really excited” about joining “a giant of a team” and backed himself to win titles with the Merseyside club following their disappointment in Kiev last weekend.
Klopp, pictured, believes the 24-yearold possesses a mentality which will benefit his existing squad.
He told Liverpool’s official website: “We have signed a fantastic player, but someone who is an equally fantastic person I think.
“His reputation as a character in the dressing room and his attitude in training has come through from everyone we speak to.
“He has a lovely family also. Adding a person like this to our dressing room only makes us even stronger. What we have – in terms of our environment at Melwood and in the team – means anyone coming in must be of that build. They must be the highest quality person and player.”
Fabinho graduated from the Fluminense academy as a right-back and persisted in that position until, after brief stints with Rio Ave and Real Madrid, blossoming as a defensive midfielder at Monaco.
Klopp added: “He has ability and mentality to play at the highest level in a number of positions. He can play ‘6’, ‘8’ and ‘2’. This is cool.
“He is tactically very strong and football smart. I think he improves our squad and there aren’t that many players you can say that about in this moment, because the quality we have already is so high.
“I like that he is young yet experienced also, with a high number of games at a club that compete to win. Also, international caps for Brazil tells you something about him.
“This signing gives us new opportunities and for that I am excited. I’m sure our supporters will make him very welcome and at home at our wonderful club and in our amazing city.”
Fabinho will link up with his new club on the same day as fellow midfielder Naby Keita, who agreed to join Liverpool from RB Leipzig last August.
He has been identified as a replacement for Emre Can, who is out of contract at Anfield this summer and has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus.