Midfielder’s outlook on life has changed since the death of his former Anfield teammate in a tragic accident
F
abinho attended Diogo Jota’s funeral unable to believe it was all true. His Portuguese friend, with whom he played for three years at Liverpool, had died in a tragic accident alongside André Silva, his brother. The Brazilian found himself reflecting extensively on life and how everything can be lost in a fleeting moment.
“It was very difficult to absorb because he had a routine and a life just like mine,” Fabinho says. “When that happens, you put yourself in that situation. We’ve lived through a period together. We fought to achieve our dreams. Professional dreams, but personal dreams too. We had a lot in common. And then you think about it. There’s no way round it. It makes you think that life is but a breath.”
Fabinho is talking from Spain, preparing with Al-Ittihad for his third season in the Saudi Pro League. Since joining the Portuguese club Rio Ave at the age of 18, he has lived outside Brazil. Over the following 13 years, he has become accustomed to the rhythms of travelling and working in football, but Jota’s death has changed his outlook.
