Alisson Becker lifts lid on Saudi Arabia interest while pledging his future to Liverpool

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker confirmed that he was a target for the Saudi Arabia League earlier in the transfer window, but he had to keep his cool to resist any lure to the Middle East. And he will be ready to pen a new deal should the Club still need his services.

The Brazilian no.1 disclosed how the interest shown in him, coupled with the lucrative offers a number of his peer football stars have before them, in Saudi Arabia meant he had to keep a level head.

When rumors began circulating that Liverpool was in the market for Georgia international goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, who had a solid tournament in the Euros, many felt Allison’s time with the Reds may be coming to an end. Instead, the 30-year-old has welcomed any healthy competition and has reaffirmed his committment to the Club.

Ian Doyle of Liverpool Echo reported that the keeper said: “Yes, they had interest.” when he was asked if clubs from Saudi Arabia had approached him.

Alisson continued, “Why stay? I have a contract and I want to honour my contract and finish my contract here or make a new one. I am really happy here. My family is happy.

“I never got to the point where I was talking about wages and things like this, it was just interest, but when you hear about the numbers the other players are getting you are a little bit attracted. That is normal.

“(But) I never thought about leaving. I had always decided to stay. I have two years plus one – the club’s choice – to stay here at Liverpool. So I will not leave now and I never thought about that. When the interest from Saudi came, I cannot close the door on a big deal.

“But my decision was always to stay and focus on the things we can achieve, this new beginning and this new start, and I am really excited about that. We are starting fresh with new energy and looking forward to what this season will bring for us.”

Alisson Becker further added, “At the end of the day, you play football for love, it is the thing you like to do, but it is our profession and we want to use the years that we have to make the most of it. I think I am open to that (Saudi Arabia) personally but not now. Now is not the time.

“I am really focused on the things we have here at Liverpool and while I still have my contract here, I will be focused here. If it is in the interest of the club to negotiate me (to sell), then it will be a different conversation. At this time, at this window that we have, I am focused on my job here and my life in Liverpool.”

Doyle also reported that Alisson revealed he was told by the club of the intention to sign Mamardashvili – the Reds are discussing a €40m deal that would see the keeper return to Valencia this season – before the news became common knowledge.

But the Brazilian looked unperturbed by a potential competiton for places, but rather welcomed the Club’s decision citing looking ahead into the future is key to lay foundation for perpertual success on the pitch.

“I think the club needs to prepare for the future,” he said. “We are not going to last forever here, I am getting old! No, for a goalkeeper I am still young, I have a lot of energy and I still have much to give for this club and I want to give to the club as much as I can.

“But they have to prepare for the future. They have and they will do for different positions as well. We have so many important players with the contract expiring and the club needs to organise themselves for the future.

“I think it was a good idea, I knew about that (Mamardashvili) before it came out on social media and that is a good message for me because the club cares about what I think.

“But they are doing the right thing in my point of view, but, on my side, as long as I have my contract here and as long as I am happy here, the club is happy with me, my family is happy here, I will stay.”

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