Liverpool goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga is all set to leave the club in the January window on a permanent deal, according to James Pearce.
Writing for The Athletic, the journalist claims that the 22-year-old goalkeeper is returning to Brazil to sign for former club Fluminense on a permanent deal.
With “talks at an advanced stage”, Pearce says that the goalkeeper is expected to complete his move over the weekend.
It will be a free transfer, but Liverpool are negotiating a sell-on clause.
He was a part of the Brazil squad that won the Under-17 World Cup, and the Reds paid an initial fee of £1million to sign him from Fluminense in October 2020.
The young goalkeeper was an unused substitute on seven occasions during Jurgen Klopp’s reign, but he didn’t make any senior appearances for Liverpool.
He has been on loan at Livingston this season but hasn’t made a single league appearance. It has been a frustrating spell for him, and a move to Brazil looks a sensible decision to kick-start his career.
Marcelo Pitaluga makes the right choice
It was always going to be difficult for Pitaluga to cement his position in the senior side.
Alisson Becker remains the first-choice goalkeeper at the club, and Caoimhin Kelleher has proved to be arguably the best second-choice keeper in the league.
On top of that, Liverpool have signed Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will join the Reds next summer. Pitaluga would drop even further down the pecking order, and it makes a lot of sense for him to return to Brazil and play regularly.
Liverpool are also planning to send midfielder Stefan Bajcetic on loan to Real Betis, and talks are being held at an advanced stage.
It will be interesting to see if any senior player leaves the club, with reports emerging that Federico Chiesa could return to Italy on loan.
