Alisson Becker: 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Liverpool's €75m Signing

Premier League side Liverpool announced the signing of Alisson Becker from AS Roma on Thursday and it took an astronomical amount of €75 million to lure the Brazilian to Merseyside. However, this signing is believed to have solved one of Liverpool's biggest problems - goalkeeping.

Alisson, who was signed by Roma for just €8 million two seasons ago, is now the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of football overtaking fellow countryman Ederson. The arrival of the Brazilian number one has established Liverpool as one of strongest contenders for the Premier League title.

It might have cost the Reds some money, but the fans are definitely excited about Alisson and hope to see a solid number one between the sticks after a long time.

The goalkeeper's rise in football is phenomenal and here are five things you probably didn't know about Alisson.

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#5 Alisson considered leaving Roma last summer

Alisson was an understudy to Wojciech Szczesny

As mentioned before Alisson was bought by Roma for just €8 million from Brazilian side Internacional in the summer of 2016. However, it was only this season that he became the first-choice custodian of the Italian club.

In his first season at the club, he was understudy to former Arsenal and current Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Alisson, knowing that he had reached a critical point in his career, didn't want to be on the bench and considered leaving Roma at the end of the 2016/17 season.

The latest Liverpool signing once admitted that he was about to depart from the club if he wasn't promised regular playing time. That was when Juventus came calling for Szczesny and the Polish goalkeeper jumped ship, giving a chance for the then 24-year-old Alisson.

Team manager Eusebio de Francesco decided not to bring in another number one and stuck with the Brazilan, which paid off big time. It is funny when you think that had Alisson quit Roma last summer, he might not have been in goal for Brazil at the World Cup.

And hadn't Juventus signed Szczesny, Alisson might not have been the most expensive goalkeeper now.

#4 Alisson competed with veteran Dida for a starting place

Dida has a Liverpool connection

Alisson's life as a goalkeeper hasn't always been easy. In fact, it was only last season that he was able to cement a spot as a first-choice goalkeeper. Before that, he always had to compete with someone or the other to earn a spot in goal.

One such competition he faced was against former Brazilian international Dida. In 2014/15, the two-time UEFA Champions League winner had a stint with Internacional where Alisson was trying to establish himself as the number one.

Dida's arrival made sure it didn't happen easily. Even at the age of 40, the veteran gave the young goalkeeper a good fight.

Dida's Liverpool connection is worth mentioning at this point. It was the Brazilian goalkeeper who was in goal for AC Milan when the Reds made one of the biggest comebacks in the history of sports back in 2005. He was also the goalkeeper for Milan when they took revenge for that upset in 2007.

#3 Alisson is from a family of goalkeepers

At one point, Alisson wasn't even the best goalkeeper in his family

Another competition Alisson had to face at Internacional was against a goalkeeper by the name of Muriel. Although he was not a very popular player, Muriel was Alisson's own brother. When your primary competition is your sibling itself, things get a little different.

Muriel, who is five years older than his brother, was ahead of Alisson causing the latest Liverpool signing to be worried about people comparing the two.

Even though both of them wanted to better the other, Alisson believes his brother is the reason for all the success he is enjoying today and has an equal part in who he is today.

Now, where did the two brothers get inspired to become goalkeepers? Their father, who used to be the keeper for his company team, and the two siblings often watched their hero play.

The former Roma goalkeeper was very much impressed by his father's 'crazy' goalkeeping style and wanted to be like him.

The goalkeeping blood in Alisson's family doesn't end there. His mother was also a goalkeeper for a handball team and his grandfather played in goal for a local amateur club.

That's four family members who have played in goal in some form or the other!

#2 Alisson almost quit football

Things weren't always easy for Alisson

The initial stages of Alisson's career were really difficult. The Brazilian's growth was quite slow that he was not as tall or as big as other goalkeepers of his age.

Height is almost a necessity to become a keeper in football due to the large surface area to cover. His coaches and Alisson himself started to doubt if he could make it when he wasn't growing as fast as his peers.

The former Internacional footballer even admitted that he thought he would have to quit the sport. However, a sudden growth spurt also saw his technique improve drastically at the same time.

This is why Alisson is a good example of hard work and perseverance. If it wasn't for his fortitude, he wouldn't have reached the heights that he has now.

#1 Alisson is a musician

He can entertain on and off the pitch

Alisson is a footballer by profession and a musician by hobby. The 25-year-old knows more than a thing or two about music and playing the guitar. Videos of him singing and playing the guitar can be seen if you take a look at his Instagram profile.

It is always nice to see athletes finding time for their other passions and by the looks of it, Alisson loves music. The goalkeeper usually takes the instrument with him and has even made an appearance on a Brazilian talk show called The Noite with Daniel Gentili, where he performed for the audience.

The Liverpool squad now have a musician they can go to if they want some sort of entertainment. But will he be the dressing room DJ?