Al-Ahli told to strip Liverpool icon Roberto Firmino of the captaincy and give it to former Chelsea star

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Roberto Firmino left Liverpool last summer for Al-Ahli after becoming a modern-day legend at Anfield.

The Brazilian international played a key role in the Jurgen Klopp era at Liverpool with Firmino leading the attack alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane as the trio won the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League.

With Curtis Jones recently claiming that Firmino was better than Salah, the former Hoffenheim attacker will go down as a true fan favourite at Anfield after an incredible career at Liverpool in what was a special time for the club.

Yet things have not exactly gone to plan for Firmino since moving to Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ahli told to give the captain’s armband from Firmino to Edouard Mendy

Speaking to Kooora, former Saudi Arabia international Hussein Abdulghani made the claim that Al-Ahli should strip Firmino of the captain’s armband and give it to former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Despite having the likes of Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessie on their books, Al-Ahli have endured a tough start to the Saudi Pro League season, with Firmino’s side sat eighth with just three wins after eight games.

And for Abdulghani, a former Al-Ahli star, replacing Firmino as captain with Mendy could be the step the Saudi Arabia side need to kick-start their season, which so far has been a massive disappointment.

Abdulghani said: “Mendy’s injury is a big loss. I criticized him at the beginning of his career with the team, but now I demand that he be the captain. Mendy has been performing well since last season and plays a big role in the dressing room.

How has Firmino faired since moving to Saudi Arabia?

Firmino’s move to Saudi Arabia last summer was quite a surprise for many Liverpool fans given how much more the 33-year-old attacker had to give at the highest level in European football.

Yet as per the attacker’s stats for Al-Ahli since moving last year, the former Anfield icon hasn’t exactly lit the Saudi Pro League on fire, with this season especially disappointing with Firmino scoring just three goals in 13 appearances.

Indeed, Firmino might have made a mistake in swapping Europe for the Middle East last summer, and the forward losing the captain’s armband would be quite an embarrassing episode for the Brazil star if Al-Ahli were to make such a move.