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Roberto Firmino's Saudi Arabia nightmare continues as Liverpool icon sent fresh brutal message

mark wakefield
·2-min read
Former Liverpool star Roberto Firmino in action for Al Ahli
-Credit: (Image: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)


Former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino continues to endure a difficult season in Saudi Arabia. The Brazilian left the Reds in the summer of 2023 as a free agent when his contract expired following eight years at Anfield.

Firmino scored 111 goals across 362 appearances for Liverpool and won six major trophies along the way under former manager Jurgen Klopp. The striker has since gone on to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, where he was named club captain following his arrival.

After scoring nine goals across his first campaign in Saudi Arabia, Firmino has found things much more difficult this term. The former Liverpool star has scored three times this season, but Al-Ahli currently find themselves in eighth place in the Saudi Pro League.

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Friday night saw Firmino and Co. held to a 1-1 draw with Al-Akhdoud, with former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez on the score sheet. The result led to former Al-Ahli star Hussein Abdulghani issuing a message explaining why he believes Firmino should no longer wear the captain's armband.

Abdulghani named former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as the player he would name as Al-Ahli's next captain instead of Firmino. Mendy suffered a thigh injury during the draw with Al-Akhdoud, which forced the Senegal international to be substituted at half time.

"[Edouard] Mendy's injury is a big loss." Abdulghani is quoted telling Kooora.com. "I criticized him at the beginning of his career with the team, but now I demand that he be the captain."

Firmino was also substituted during Al-Ahli's recent draw, but not until the 85th minute. The next opportunity for the former Liverpool star to feature for his club will be against Al-Ittihad on Thursday, who have ex-Reds midfielder Fabinho in their squad.