Fabio Carvalho breaks ranks to discuss Liverpool team-mates' Saudi transfers
Fabio Carvalho replied "that's their choice" after being quizzed on the proposed moves of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia.
Liverpool have accepted a £12million bid from Saudi club Al-Ettifaq for Henderson, 33. Steven Gerrard's side have offered the England international a £700,000-a-week salary and it's claimed he's said goodbye to his Reds team-mates ahead of the switch.
Fabinho, 29, is also close to joining Al-Ittihad in a £40m deal, although talks between Liverpool and the Saudi Pro League champions are still ongoing. Both Henderson and Fabinho were allowed to leave Liverpool's squad to negotiate their respective moves.
Henderson has faced criticism for entertaining a move to Al-Ettifaq after previously showing support for the LGBT+ community. Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia and punishable by the death penalty, leaving many fans feeling betrayed by Henderson.
Carvalho, 20, was the first Liverpool player to be asked for his thoughts on his Henderson's and Fabinho's proposed moves to Saudi Arabia during an interview with FootballTransfers. He replied: "If they want to do what they want to do, then that's their choice."
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Thiago Alcantara is also wanted by clubs in Saudi Arabia, while Roberto Firmino has already made the switch from Liverpool to Al-Hilal. Several stars have already left the Premier League for Saudi Arabia, including N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy and Ruben Neves.
Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema has signed for Al-Ittihad, while Ballon d'Or runner-up Sadio Mane - another former Liverpool player - is wanted by Al-Nassr. The great Cristiano Ronaldo was the first big name to move to Saudi Arabia, joining Al-Nassr in January.
Carvalho has admitted he will watch the Saudi Pro League. He said: "There are so many superstars going, so I'll definitely be watching and I’m sure the league is only going to get better and better every year, so I'll be watching it because I love football anyways."
Jordan Henderson is on the verge of joining Al-Ettifaq (Getty Images)What do you make of Jordan Henderson's and Fabinho's proposed moves to Saudi Arabia? Let us know in the comments below!
Yet Carvalho, who joined RB Leipzig on a season-long loan from Liverpool earlier this summer, has no interest in joining a Saudi club "anytime soon". He wants to continue playing in Europe as he believes that is where "the best footballers are currently".
Kop Outs, Liverpool's official LGBT+ fan group, has called on Henderson to turn down the chance to move to Saudi Arabia. Graeme Souness, who has spoken out against homophobia, has also pleaded with the Liverpool skipper to change his mind.
"Kop Outs have valued the allyship shown by Jordan Henderson. We are appalled and concerned that anyone might consider working for a sportswashing operation for a regime where women & LGBT+ people are oppressed," the group said in a statement.
"When someone's made a fortune, should money tempt them to go to work? Maybe they should be asking themselves those questions. We hope that Jordan Henderson proves to be a man of his word and stays true to the values of our club, which so far he has been an absolute embodiment of."
Speaking to Sky Bet, Souness added: "I think with him [Henderson], as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and a supporter of Rainbow Laces - and then he ends up going to Saudi, I think without a doubt that will damage his legacy."
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