Middlesbrough defender Fabio has parted ways with the club and is headed to France to continue his footballing career. The 28-year-old has joined Ligue 1 outfit Nantes after spending two seasons at Riverside Stadium. The former Manchester United full-back was touted for big things when he burst onto the scene but his career didn’t take off as expected.
During his time with Boro, he made 54 appearances for them. The fee is said to be around the €2m mark and the player has joined the French side on a three-year contract. The defender has the experience of playing 80 games in the English top flight so that should stand him in good stead in the French League.
Last season, the 28-year-old left-back made 22 appearances in the Championship and Tony Pulis more often than not preferred George Friend in the left back role as he was more defensively solid and sound. Fabio is known for his adventurous nature on the pitch and sometimes he is found out of position owing to his attacking nature. Pulis as a manager demands more discipline from his defenders and it is no surprise that the club parted ways with him.
The fullback has even represented Brazil twice but his career didn’t reach the height which was expected. He is known for his stint with Manchester United where he won 2 Premier League titles under the legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Fabio has an abundance of energy in his game but even after being experienced he shows a certain level of naivety in his game and he often lets himself down by making the wrong decision on the pitch. Pulis will be looking to go two steps further in the upcoming season as they lost in the playoff semi-final to Aston Villa by a narrow margin. The Teessiders had one of the meanest defences in the league and that is what was expected when Pulis was brought in as the manager.
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The move is certainly going to help both the parties as Boro have got an amount which they can invest in the ongoing transfer market to improve their side. Fabio would have been used more as a backup option in the upcoming season and maybe in the Ligue 1, he will be able to showcase his worth much better as he is likely to be a regular starter for Nantes.
