Fabinho 'expected' Raphinha to join Liverpool after brilliant first season at Leeds United - Yorkshire Post 14/10/21
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho says he "expected" the Anfield club to sign Raphinha last summer, such has been the winger's impact at Leeds United.
By Stuart Rayner
The pair are now international team-mates after Raphinha
made his Brazil debut last month, reward for an excellent first season at
Elland Road. That form has continued in 2021-22, and on the international
stage.
"Raphinha, since he arrived in the Premier League, has
been performing and standing out very well at Leeds," he said.
"Even in the summer transfer market, there was some
talk that he could go to Liverpool, I even expected that to happen, but he
stayed at Leeds."
Raphinha has been hugely impressive at Leeds, where he tends
to be used as a right-winger, and after his performances from the bench in his
first two games for Brazil, there is an expectation that he will be handed a
first start at home to Uruguay in Friday's World Cup qualifier.
"He is Leeds's best player," said Fabinho.
"Whenever a team is going to play against them, they know that Raphinha is
the player who can cause the most danger.
"After his first call-up, he started very well in both
games, he made an impact against Venezuela, he played a part in the three
goals. Against Colombia, he came in and played very well.