Is Liverpool’s Premier League enforcer Fabinho the best defensive midfielder in the world? Kante, Busquets, and Frenkie de Jong might disagree.
Declan Rice believes Liverpool enforcer Fabinho is the best defensive midfielder in the world at the moment, with the West Ham United star raving about his blend of technical and physical gifts in quotes reported by Spencer FC.
It seems a long time ago now that Fabinho was sitting on the bench, twiddling his thumbs at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp was keen to avoid throwing the £43.7 million signing in at the deep end when he arrived from Monaco in the summer of 2018, and the manager has been rewarded for his patience by some outstanding performances since the turn of the year.
Fabinho is the glue who holds this Liverpool team together and, after playing a key role in The Reds’ latest Champions League success, he is firmly established as one of the first names on Klopp’s team sheet.
And Rice, who plays in a similar position in front of the defence, believes that Fabinho is ahead of N’Golo Kante, Sergio Busquets, Casemiro and Frenkie de Jong on current form.
“At the moment, in the world, the best player in my position is probably Fabinho,” said the England international.
“Champions League winner, adapted to the Premier League really well. Strong, powerful, sees a pass, reads the game well. Yeah, I’m going to have to say Fabinho.”
Given the progress Rice himself has made over the last 12 months, there’s no reason why he cannot replace Fabinho as the world’s very best in the near future.
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