Liverpool confirm permanent transfer for goalkeeper to return home to Brazil

Liverpool have agreed a deal for the permanent transfer of goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga to Brazilian club Fluminense after four years with the Premier League club.

The Reds originally recruited Rio de Janeiro-born Pitaluga from Fluminense in January 2021, moving to England for a reported £2m fee after turning 18 the month before.

The towering goalkeeper linked up with the junior sides and quickly made appearances in both the Under-18 Premier League and Premier League 2. During the subsequent 2021/22 season, Pitaluga became a regular with the Under-21s but also made several first-team matchday squads.

Liverpool saw fit to loan him out to gain experience and the youngster made his debut in senior football for phoenix side Macclesfield FC in the seventh tier. But further loans at St Patrick’s Athletic and Livingston in Republic of Ireland and Scotland respectively didn’t yield the chances hoped.

Both Liverpool and Fluminense have announced the proposed transfer, which remains dependent on what should be the formality of Pitaluga, now 22, undergoing a satisfactory medical.

"Everyone at LFC wishes Marcelo the best of luck for the future," a Liverpool statement said.

Overall, Liverpool's goalkeeping department is incredibly strong. Alisson Becker continues to be backed up by understudy Caoimhin Kelleher, who has repeatedly demonstrated that he has the ability to be a Premier League starter elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Giorgi Mamardashvili will soon arrive from Valencia, having been recruited last summer off the back of Euro 2024. Czech international Vitezslav Jaros has also featured this season.

Beneath the first-team, Harvey Davies and Polish trio Fabian Mrozek, Jakub Ojrzynski and Kornel Misciur will be hoping to land a senior spot if a summer reshuffle sees Kelleher and Jaros move on.

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