Fulham manager Marco Silva had to answer a question about Fabio Carvalho as he prepares to take on Liverpool tomorrow.
Liverpool bought Carvalho from Fulham for around £8m in summer 2022. Although billed for a big future at Anfield, the 21-year-old had a disappointing debut campaign for the Reds and left on-loan for RB Leipzig.
Carvalho’s fate since leaving the Cottagers has led to suggestions that he may have been better off staying in West London after all.
And as he struggles for minutes at Leipzig, journalist Peter Rutzler took to X to report that Silva was asked if he was ‘following’ his former player ahead of Sunday’s game.
“It’s not for me to talk about it,” replied the Fulham boss. “Liverpool bought him, that’s Jurgen and Liverpool to talk about it.”
Silva dodges Carvalho question
In fairness to Silva, this is just about the most respectful answer he could have given here.
It’s clear that Carvalho’s career has taken a bit of a downward turn since deciding to leave Fulham last year.
The Portuguese coach could easily have pointed that out, and gone with a ‘told you so’ type attitude. Silva did urge Fabio to stay with him at Craven Cottage when Liverpool came calling, after all.
Had he listened to his coaches wishes, he could have been part of an upwardly mobile Fulham last season.
That he didn’t and now finds himself somewhat out in the cold in the Bundesliga will of course bring Silva no joy. But it is perhaps a warning to any players who find themselves in a similar position.
Nevertheless, we’re still hopeful that Carvalho can turn things around at Liverpool. For a start, the Reds should end the nonsense that has become his loan spell at Leipzig and bring him back over the New Year.
From there, they can rehabilitate him and nail down a position in Liverpool’s new-look squad. With confidence restored at Anfield this season, it should be easier for Carvalho to find himself at the club.
For the time being though, there’s no suggestion that Fabio will indeed return to his parent club in January. If things don’t improve for him, there’s a chance that he’ll fall off the radar completely.
Klopp will perhaps be thankful to Silva for keeping his mouth closed over a player who so much more was expected of.
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