REAL MADRID
Manchester appeals to former Mourinho prodigy Fabinho
Mourinho gave the 23-year-old Brazilian his debut for Real Madrid in 2013. His father says he is keen to return to England - with Manchester his preferred destination...Ajax - Manchester United live
Bernabéu debut
Back in the summer of 2012, a young Fabio Henrique Taveres, or more simply known as Fabinho, joined Real Madrid Castilla on a season-long loan. The Brazilian impressed first team coach José Mourinho so much that he was handed his debut, still a teenager, after just a few months with the reserves. Fabinho came on for the last 15 minutes in the 6-2 home win against Málaga on 8 May 2013 and even set up Ángel Di María for the winner.
Spot-kick skills
Soon after that, he returned to Rio Ave who farmed him out again - this time to Monaco, signing a permanent deal with the club in 2015. At Monaco he is usually fielded as a defensive midfielder and yet he has already racked up seven goals this season; he is also the team's penalty taker.
In-demand
Years after Real Madrid allowed him to slip out of their fingers, Fabinho is being courted by some of Europe's top clubs. His father João told Canal+'s J+1 programme this week that his son has received a lot of tempting offers: "I've held talks with Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal... and Barça have also made enquiries about him".
Fabinho, says his father, has his heart on playing in the Premier League: "He likes Manchester United and likes the way Mourinho works, but he has a small weakness for City...".
