LIVERPOOL’S new star signing Fabinho only made the move to the club because he was told by the man upstairs it was the right thing to do.
According to pals, the Brazilian midfielder is a fervent Evangelical Christian and “doesn’t take any decision without consulting God first.”
Fabinho has not appeared in a competitive game for Liverpool this season
Fabinho with his stunning wife Rebeca TavaresCredit: Instagram @rebecas.tavares
And before agreeing to a £40million transfer to Klopp’s side, Fabinho first sent a message to a WhatsApp group of childhood friends back in Brazil, asking them to pray for “God’s guidance” about joining the Reds.
Despite commanding a handsome transfer fee, Fabinho has yet to feature for Liverpool so far this season.
But according to friend Paul Conrado, who played with Fabinho in his first local amateur club, Paulinia FC, when he finally makes his debut for the club it will be the player’s childhood dream come true.
He told SunSport: “Fabinho’s always dreamed of playing in the English Premier League, he never stopped talking about it.
Fabinho, right, in a team shot for his former side Paulinia FC
The midfielder, left, watches on as a team-mate slides in for the ball
Fabinho and Fluminense palsCredit: Instagram @fabinho
“And he was obsessed with one day playing in the Champion’s League.
“So the move to Liverpool really was a no brainer, it is everything he ever wanted. But even so, he wouldn’t have gone if he wasn’t sure God wanted him to.
“He sent a WhatsApp audio message to his friends back home, asking them to pray for God to give him guidance and direction about which decision to make.
“He said he wanted to know that going to Liverpool was the will of God for his life. He wanted to feel peace about it and said he wouldn’t do it if he didn’t feel God wanted it.”
Fabinho and his wife Rebeca
Another friend, Diego Castro, said he received a message from Fabinho following confirmation of his move to Liverpool.
It read: “I’m so happy. God has been faithful in my life, and now because of him I am making a big step in my career.”
Paulo, who now plays for Brazilian club Novo Hamburgo, said that the young Fabinho would always put his faith before football, often missing kickabouts with friends near his home in Campinas, Brazil, to go to church meetings.
He said: “His whole family belonged to the Foursquare Gospel church in town.
“In the evenings we’d often arrange a game or kick around in the street with the local kids.
“But when we called round at Fabinho’s house he would often say, ‘no, I have an appointment with God.’
“He was the one kid we’d want playing with us, and he was often missing because he was in church or in a prayer meeting.
“There were many other times when the lads would invite him to go drinking or clubbing after a game and he wouldn’t go, because that kind of behaviour would not be pleasing to God.
“And he doesn’t kick a ball without first spending time in prayer asking for strength. Despite his success and fame, he hasn’t let any of that change that.
“He never hides his faith and that will not change in the Liverpool dressing room either.”
Diego Castro, known as Dik, another childhood friend who played football with Fabinho from the age of 12, until he left to join Brazilian first division side Fluminense, said that his reliance on God when taking decisions even extended to possible girlfriends.
And just like another Brazilian soccer superstar Kaka, he has always been a firm believer in no sex before marriage.
Fabinho has always remained close to pals from homeCredit: Instagram @fabinho
Fabinho’s father Joao Roberto was a metal workerCredit: Instagram @fabinho
He said: “There was one time when he was starting to like a girl and was considering asking her out.
“Most of the other boys wouldn’t think twice, but for Fabinho it was a serious decision because he would never go with a girl just for the fun of it.
“He talked it through with lots of people, and with his family, and spent a lot of time praying about it.
“In the end he decided against it, he said he felt that a relationship would get in the way of his football and his future plans.
Fabinho holds aloft his Liverpool shirt – but he is yet to wear it in a competitive matchCredit: Instagram @fabinho
“I don’t think he dated another girl after that, until he met Rebeca Tavares, who is also a Christian girl, who he married in 2015.
“He is very firm in what he believes. I’m sure he waited until he was married to have sex for the first time.”
Pal Dik attended their wedding in Campinas and also plays football for Brazilian side Ji Parana.
He said that Fabinho, whose father Joao Roberto was a metal worker and whose mother Roseangela earned money cleaning people’s houses, overcame many difficulties to get to where he is today.
Fabinho and Rebeca have fun in LondonCredit: Instagram @fabinho
Dik said: “We lived close together in the same periphery of Campinas and we would take the same bus to training.
“Sometimes Fabinho’s bus money would run out, but he’s still managed to make it to training or games, either by asking for a lift, or walking, or staying at another player’s house overnight.”
Real name Fabio Henrique Tavares, Fabinho grew up in the poor Dic VI suburb in Campinas, near Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil.
He has two elder sisters, Juliana Caroline and Ana Paula.
After moving up through teams at the now defunct Paulinia FC, and playing in the Sao Paulo Cup, he found himself in the youth ranks of Rio de Janeiro side Fluminense, aged 19.
He soon moved to Portuguese side Rio Ave a month later.
Bizarrely, before he made his debut for the Portuguese team, he was sold to Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.
He then joined Monaco in 2013, where he scored 31 goals before his big-money move to Anfield.
Which was an impressive tally for a man playing in a more defensive position.
Dik added: “He has always been incredibly dedicated. He always said he would make it big so he could help his family.
“Fabinho’s dad Joao Roberto would sometimes drive overnight to take us to away games, sometimes arriving at 5am.”
Dik said that the only times Fabinho ever missed a training session were when they clashed with a Champions League match.
He said: “Fabinho was obsessed with the Champions League.
“He never missed seeing a game, but never admitted it to the coach, always coming up with an excuse. We all knew why though.”
One of his coaches at Paulinia, William Sander, remembers Fabinho as “dedicated and intelligent but distracted on the pitch.”
He added: “We’d find him daydreaming in the middle of the game. It was just something of a boy his age which we worked with him to correct.
“We had a social worker and psychologist as part of the staff, and we knew from them that he faced a lot of financial difficulties.
Fabinho and former teammates at Monaco, including Radamel Falcao and James RodriguezCredit: Instagram @fabinho
“I was impressed by how he battled to make it, and how his father made sacrifices to help him. His dream was to play in the Premier League.
“He is still incredibly humble and has never forgotten his roots.
“He sent me a message yesterday, thanking me for helping him get to where he is.
“Whenever he’s back in town he meets up with all the people who were part of his life before.”
