His English is among those things Fabinho is still working on, but he smiles at the word and for the only time in our interview speaks without the interpreter. “Brother. Yes, like brother,” he says. We’re talking about Ricardo, his sister’s husband and somebody who, if this Brazilian comes good, will have Liverpool’s gratitude.

It was Ricardo who bought a young Fabio Henrique Tavares his first proper boots. Ricardo who drove him to games and training. Ricardo who gave up work to live in Monaco and help Fabinho’s European career take off. And it’s Ricardo who is the sounding board during an adaptation period with Liverpool that has been “really horrible” at points.

Signed for £39.3m, plus £5m add-ons, in May, Fabinho had to wait