Perhaps the biggest story in the global football world today is Liverpool and AS Roma reaching agreement on the transfer of goalkeeper Alisson Becker. The £66.8 million bid submitted by Liverpool and accepted by Roma is a new world’s record for a goalie.
Alisson is currently with his new club undergoing his medical examination. According to Roma Sporting Director Monchi, the deal isn’t done as of yet.
“We haven’t finalized anything yet [with Alisson]. But it is true that the negotiations are advanced and he’s over in Liverpool now,” Monchi said at a press conference today unveiling Justin Kluivert.
“When a very substantial offer comes in, you have to consider it. We weighed up the pros and cons and decided to speak to Liverpool.”
“Selling Alisson would not show a lack of ambition. For me, ambition is about doing the right thing after thinking everything through. I came here to build a strong team, not just for one year but for many years to come – and I’m 100% sure that will be the case.”
“We’ve only sold two players and we’ve signed 10, and we’re going to continue looking for players to make us an even bigger club,” he added.
Monchi on the future of Alisson Becker… ?
More ?? https://t.co/L2pJpLEDuf pic.twitter.com/udNfSHlVCJ
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) July 19, 2018
While Roma have only sold two players to Liverpool, the team that beat them in the UEFA Champions League semifinals this past season, the two that they sold are huge names.
Winger Mohamed Salah left Roma for Liverpool last summer, and went on to break the Premier League single season scoring record, win PFA Player of the Year and Player of the Year. If Alisson turns out to be an investment providing a return at a level even remotely close to that superlative excellence, Liverpool could be dominant.
Given the high profile of the two deals that Liverpool have done with Roma in the past year, one could expect that social media would have a lot of fun with it.
Twitter did not disappoint:
Southampton looking at Liverpool do multiple business with someone else like… ? #Alisson pic.twitter.com/pj5VBUILyh
— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) July 19, 2018
That is of course a reference to Liverpool raiding Southampton so much over the past few years.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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