The Brazilian flew to Hong Kong directly after completing his Liverpool move in summer 2007, linking up with new teammates, including the celebrated trio of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, and Xabi Alonso, who were already in the city for the Premier League Asia Trophy.

Liverpool came back in 2017, and the club’s commercial director, Ben Latty, estimates they have 50 million supporters across mainland China and Hong Kong.

Latty said the club were “not ruling out” a return for the first team, with “Hong Kong a vital region for us”.

And Lucas, who was forced to retire in December 2022, after a potential heart problem surfaced in a routine medical screening, recalled an “amazing reception” in Hong Kong, but only after being “very scared” for the duration of his flight from London.

“I was very young and could not speak any English,” Lucas said. “I could see straight away the size of the club, not only because of the great players, but from the amazing reception in Hong Kong, I realised the club was even more massive than I thought.”

Coming back to Asia, 17 years after he started his Liverpool career with a penalty shoot-out defeat by Portsmouth, “provides an opportunity to show our affection for the fans, and repay their support”.

The ‘Welcome to Anfield’ initiative has been arranged with Swire Properties, who were founded in Liverpool in 1816, with malls in Guangzhou, Chengdu, and, between August 1 and September 1, Cityplaza in Hong Kong, housing club-themed exhibitions, designed to replicate the Anfield match-day experience.

“We know a lot of people around the world follow Liverpool, and the responsibility when you are on the field is very high,” Lucas said.

“I have a lot of respect for what they do, it is not easy to follow the team from a different time zone.”

Liverpool will continue their quadruple quest with an FA Cup quarter-final visit to Manchester United on Sunday. Manager Jurgen Klopp has already won the Carabao Cup in his farewell season, and Liverpool this week confirmed their place in the last eight of the Europa League.

They are level on points with Premier League leaders Arsenal, and unbeaten in 14 home league matches.

“The fans at Anfield never let you down,” Lucas said. “The energy is always there.”

Lucas conceded replacing “the best manager I had”, in Klopp, who is standing down at the end of the season, “will not be easy, because he is unique”.

“We knew as soon as he came [in 2015] that something was starting to be built,” Lucas said. “I am sure he will be part of helping to find a new manager.”

Lucas returned to first club Gremio in 2022, after five years with Lazio, but had to retire last year after being diagnosed with an alteration of his cardiac rhythm.

“It was a very hard moment for me, but, after one year, I am looking to the future,” he said. “I am grateful we found the problem before something worse happened.

“I spoke with some players [who had similar issues], and we know it does not stop you from having a great life. It is just a problem to play football.

“It was difficult to accept, at first, but now I am enjoying a lot of time with my family, and happy I can stay connected with the Liverpool supporters, which gives me a taste of how it was when I was playing.”