At a time when announcing transfers has become an industry unto itself, this week saw a rather anticlimactic end to rumours surrounding AS Roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Linked with Liverpool for quite some time, it was instead a short statement from the Italian club that eventually made the move official.
“Thanks for everything Alisson and good luck for your new adventure,” tweeted Roma from their official account, following that up with details of the deal taking the player to Anfield. It is somewhat ironic that just two weeks after Gigi Buffon left Juventus, the world record fee for a goalkeeper — set when the Italian icon joined the Bianconeri from Parma seventeen years ago— was finally smashed.
Alisson will cost Liverpool a cool €62.5 million (plus a further €10 million in potential bonuses), comfortably topping the €52 million paid for Buffon back in 2001 and shortly after Roma had stole their thunder, the English club confirmed the deal themselves. ”I’m really happy, it’s a dream come true to wear such a prestigious shirt for a club of this size that is used to always winning,” he explained in an interview with their official website. “In terms of my life and my career, it’s a huge step for me being part of this club and this family. You can be certain that I’ll give my all.”
Jürgen Klopp spoke to them too, explaining that his club simply could not pass up the chance to sign Alisson, who he regards as one of the finest shot-stoppers around and the German boss also believes the new man will comfortably slip into life in the Premier League. “At one point in the last few weeks it came up, the opportunity to sign one of the world’s best goalkeepers - then it’s not a long thought, to be honest, it’s only that you need to have a little talk with the owners!” he told Liverpoolfc.com. “They were quite excited, so we did it.”
Yet now that they have, it is easy to cast doubts over the record-breaking outlay. The Brazilian arrived at Roma two years ago but spent his first season as Wojciech SzczÄ™sny’s understudy at the Stadio Olimpico, failing to play a single minute of Serie A action before the Poland international departed twelve months ago. In essence, that means Liverpool have paid €62.5 million for a 25-year-old goalkeeper who has been first-choice in Europe for just one season, something many skeptics were quick to point out in the hours after the deal was made official.
However, as anyone who has watched him play can attest, that is simply nonsense. What Liverpool have acquired instead is a vastly experienced player who, on merit, comfortably keeps Manchester City’s Ederson out of the Brazil national team. Alisson became the Seleção no.1 while still with former club Internacional in his homeland and — such was the confidence in him — even retained his place despite that spell on the bench at Roma.
The rationale behind that decision was simple; Alisson is just that good. A calm but commanding figure between the posts, he communicates well with his team-mates and organises his defence quickly and intelligently. Cool and confident on the ball, his skill and distribution are both excellent, a fact supported by his pass completion rate which stood at 80% last term.
Of course, for a club whose entire fan base remains traumatised by the performance of their goalkeeper in June’s Champions League final, none of that really matters. But while the mere mention of Loris Karius’ display at Kiev’s Olimpiyskiy Stadium is like to send Liverpool supporters into despair, they can rest assured that Alisson is a fine shot-stopper who played an outstanding role in Roma’s impressive campaign last season.
Indeed, after losing Coach Luciano Spalletti, their best defender (Antonio Rüdiger), long-term Captain (Francesco Totti) and most dangerous attacking player (Mo Salah), 2017/18 should have been a transitional year for the Giallorossi, but instead they finished third in Serie A while marching to the Champions League semifinals. They did so behind a remarkable defensive record that saw them concede just 28 league goals, and Alisson’s contribution to that cannot be denied.
In 37 appearances he kept 17 clean sheets and made 108 saves, with Opta revealing that his 80.1 save percentage was second among all players in Europe's top five leagues. Further statistics reveal that he also made 46 saves in the Champions League last term, a mark that ranks as the best in the competition, while those suffering from Karius-related anxiety can relax in the knowledge that in 61 games in all competitions, their new man’s tally in the “errors leading to goals” column stood at zero.
Beyond those comforting figures know this; Alisson is sensational. Seemingly tired of being let down by other options, Klopp and Liverpool have found an expensive solution, but in doing so they have signed one of the five best goalkeepers in the world. He was certainly Serie A’s best last term — no small compliment given the talent between the posts in Italy’s top flight — and of that group of the global elite, he was probably the only one available.
Talking to him is to speak to a humble yet confident player, one who idolises Brazil legend Cláudio Taffarel, but insists Manuel Neuer is the best current ‘keeper. His own style and abilities have much more in common with the Germany star than with his compatriot, Alisson a thoroughly modern player who exudes an infectious self-belief that inspires both faith and trust in his team-mates.
Standing 6’ 3” tall and physically imposing, he is fit and agile too, possessing a remarkable ability to make one save then immediately spring back up to make a second. His size might be a natural gift, but his skills and reactions are the result of hours and hours of hard work on the training ground, Liverpool signing not just an excellent goalkeeper, but a man dedicated to constantly improving and honing his craft.
“Let’s not joke around,” goalkeeping coach Roberto Negrisolo told newspaper Il Romanista after being asked about the hefty fee. “He's worth much more. I don't think many people have realised who Alisson is. This guy is a phenomenon. He is the number one of No.1s. He is the Messi of goalkeepers, because he has the same mentality as Messi. He is a goalkeeper who can define an era.”
Klopp is also undaunted by the price tag, insisting it is a reflection of the current climate and believing his club will benefit from the arrival of a genuinely talented performer. “I think it’s something we have to do,” the effervescent German told Liverpool’s official website. “He has nothing to do with the price, we have nothing to do with the price, it’s the market, that’s how it is and we will not think a lot about it. It shows the value of goalkeepers, of course, in this moment. It will happen a lot in the next few weeks I guess and that’s it, so we are really happy to have him here now.”
That is undeniably true, and fans will soon see just how good their latest signing can be. Liverpool have finally ended their search for a top class goalkeeper, and while Roma may have beaten them in the race to announce the deal, all that matters is that Alisson Becker now calls Anfield “home.”
The nightmares are over.
