Ex-Liverpool Premier League winner open to joining Real Madrid in shock free transfer

Fabinho has opened the door to a stunning return to Real Madrid – 13 years after his Bernabeu exit.

The 32-year-old is currently a free agent after running his contract down in Saudi Arabia following three seasons at Al Ittihad.

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Al Ittihad splashed out £40million to bring the Brazil midfielder to the Gulf nation in 2023 – ending his trophy-laden spell at Liverpool.

Fabinho spent five years at Anfield – chipping in with 11 goals in 219 games across all competitions.

A key player under Jurgen Klopp, he scooped seven major trophies – including the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League.

But it’s not a return to Merseyside that the ex-Monaco star has publicly commented on.

Absolutely Fab-ulous

Following Brazil’s World Cup last-16 exit – a competition which saw Fabinho feature three times in – the player has flown to Madrid to spend time with his family.

Fabinho lived in the Spanish capital during the 2012/13 season, having joined Real Madrid Castilla on loan from Rio Ave.

Having impressed for Los Blancos’ reserve side, Jose Mourinho handed him his first team debut in a 6-2 LaLiga win over Malaga on May 8.

Despite supplying the assist for Real‘s sixth goal – scored by Angel Di Maria – he failed to feature for the club again.

But even though there is no suggestion that Madrid are interested in securing his services, Fabinho has insisted he would jump at the chance to pull on the famous white shirt once more to reunite with Mourinho, who is back in the club’s dugout, after he also exited Real in 2013.

Speaking to El Chiringuito TV, Fabinho was asked by reporter Marcos Benito about his future plans, to which he said: “My contract with Al Ittihad is coming to an end.

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“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.”

Pressed directly about a return to the Bernabeu, Fabinho remarked: “Who wouldn’t like being at Real Madrid? It’s the best club 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.”

It’s a Mad world

Should Fabinho seal a shock return to Real, he would link up with ex-Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Fellow Reds cult hero Ibrahima Konate meanwhile made the move this summer on a free transfer after he failed to agree fresh terms with Liverpool.

Konate is one of four players that have been signed by Real this window, with three coming directly from the Premier League.

Real acted quickly to hijack Barcelona’s deal to bring in Bernardo Silva – who won the Ligue 1 title alongside Fabinho in 2017 – after the Portuguese playmaker called time on his Manchester City career.

And Madrid also snapped up left-back Marc Cucurella from Chelsea in a deal rising to £51.8million.

Denzel Dumfries was the most recent player to join, with Real activating his £17.3m release clause at Inter Milan.