Fabinho’s Brazilian Return: From Saudi Stint to Seleçao Spotlight, with Ancelotti on the Sidelines
12 November 2025
Fabinho, the Brazil international who stars for Al-Ittihad, spoke openly about his journey with the club, his return to the national team, and his growing relationships with teammates.
He joined Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 and has earned a recall to the Seleção for the November camp under Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Brazil are preparing to face Senegal this weekend and then Tunisia, in a test of his form and his ability to adapt to Europe’s rhythms from a Saudi base.
In comments to Bein Sports, Fabinho said he is thrilled to return to the national team and that seeing his kit in the Brazil locker room felt like a first time again.
He added that reuniting with old friends, the new coaching staff, and some fresh faces has revived the wonderful atmosphere he loves.
Return to Brazil
Fabinho says he is happy to be back in the Brazil setup and that the experience is emotional as he sees his jersey in the dressing room again.
He stressed that the reunion with friends and staff strengthens his desire to prove himself to the fans and the coach.
Working with Ancelotti
The former Liverpool star regards working with Ancelotti as a fantastic opportunity to learn new things, recalling that he faced the Italian coach during his time at Liverpool and now crosses paths at a Brazil camp.
He emphasizes his wish to learn from a master and to improve his game under such a respected tactician.
He also notes a memory about trying to recall whether he previously trained under Ancelotti, joking that he left Real Madrid before the coach arrived.
Mané, Fans and the Road Ahead
Fabinho speaks about his friendship with Sadio Mane, the Senegalese star who plays for Al Nassr, saying they shared a high level of respect on and off the pitch and often talk before and after games in the Saudi league.
He praises Mane as a gifted player with outstanding technical and physical qualities and expresses happiness to have shared a squad with him in the past at Liverpool.
The midfielder also praises the Union fans, insisting they are among the best in Saudi Arabia and that home and away crowds create a powerful atmosphere.
Looking ahead, Fabinho faces a triple challenge: restore public trust with Brazil, prove that he can still provide balance in midfield under Ancelotti, and claim a World Cup spot in 2026 when he will be in his mid-thirties.
Success will require standout performances for the club in the AFC Champions League and league play, plus convincing showings in internationals to keep his name in contention.
Punchline 1: If patience were a pass, Fabinho would already be delivering the perfect through ball to a goal somewhere between Jeddah and Brazil.
Punchline 2: If a passport could score goals, Fabinho would be top scorer for frequent flyer miles, with a route map longer than my streaming queue.
