Fabinho, the Brazilian international who was a Monaco hero with Leonardo Jardim, highlighted the Portuguese coach’s influence on his career as a footballer. However, there was another coach who armed him with the versatility of today’s Liverpool player.

“In a higher quality team, you can’t always play in your position. To play, you need to find a seat. I went to Paulínia to play as a midfielder, I liked the position and ended up staying. Only, at the age of 16, other children began to match me in strength and speed. This is when a person to whom I owe a lot appeared in my life: Elio Sizenando, ”he explained in statements to UOL.

′′ He taught me that I needed to be smart to play in more than one position, and be versatile. Therefore, when there was a good full-back in the team, I played in midfield. When there was a good midfielder, I was a winger. It was Elio, long before Leonardo Jardim, who taught me to play in both positions, ”he added.

Once called up to play as a winger for the Brazilian national team, Fabinho is now a key player in Canarinha’s midfield: “Leonardo Jardim changed my life at Monaco, but because of Elio I was ready to stop being a player. Wing-right, a position in which I was already called up to the national team, and starting again as a midfielder. »