Fabinho has revealed his personal gratitude to Roberto Firmino ahead of the No.9's last Liverpool fixture this weekend.
Firmino came off the bench to net a late equaliser against Aston Villa last Saturday, marking his final Anfield appearance for the Reds in memorable fashion before his departure this summer.
Fabinho has shared five of his compatriot’s eight years with the club, which will come to an end this Sunday when Jürgen Klopp’s side complete the Premier League campaign away to Southampton.
And the midfielder added to the tributes being paid to Firmino by explaining the impact his teammate and friend has had on his own career at Liverpool.
“It was really nice that he scored in his last home game,” Fabinho told Liverpoolfc.com during an interview at the AXA Training Centre.
“It was a hard game, a tough game against Aston Villa – they played really well and defended really well. We needed somebody like Bobby there to help us and I was really happy for him. I was happy for Mo [Salah] as well because Mo gave the assist; and we know what they did together and the combination with Sadio [Mane], so it was special for those two to be involved in the goal.
“We all will miss Bobby. You can see how special he is for the fans, for us the players. For me personally, he was really important for me since my arrival at the club, the way he welcomed me, he helped me to adapt in the club, in the city.
“I didn’t expect this moment to arrive because for me Bobby means Liverpool but unfortunately we have to say goodbye to him and I just wish the best for him and his family.”
Anfield's tributes to Firmino, Keita, Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain
Three players with whom Fabinho has frequently joined forces in midfield since he signed in 2018 will also bid farewell to Liverpool following the end of the season.
Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are set to embark on new chapters in their careers having each played their part in the Reds lifting six major honours under Klopp.
“These are great players, played a minimum five years for the club and the three of them won everything at the club,” began Fabinho’s tribute to the trio.“I remember, Naby and I arrived together at the club. I remember the pre-season – he adapted much faster than me! He was playing since the first game against West Ham, he started that game and he was playing really well.
“I always loved to play with him because we understand each other really well, and we will miss him. Out of the pitch, Naby is something really special, really funny and nice to be around.
“Ox, since my arrival he struggled a little bit with injuries – when I arrived his knee was injured. But he was a really nice guy as well, nice to be around and nice to play together as well.
“He always said I don’t talk too much on the pitch but when I talk it’s because I’m right! So when I say something he says, ‘I just try to listen to you because I know you say something right.’ He is a nice guy and I wish the best for him as well.
“And Millie, I remember Millie when I arrived at the club, he helped me with his Spanish – he speaks really good Spanish so he was important for me.
“When a new midfielder arrives at a club, you never know the way the other midfielders will treat you, how their reaction will be. But Millie didn’t care that I was a midfielder, that I was fighting for a position with him, he was really nice to me.
“That’s what a captain does, he was one of the captains of the team and his actions speak for themselves because he’s really nice.”
Liverpool make the journey to St Mary’s this weekend knowing that they will finish the season in fifth place in the Premier League regardless of the result.
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