Manchester City star Ederson Moraes has admitted that he was surprised by Alisson Becker’s omission from the Brazil squad, with the Liverpool goalkeeper not named for this month’s internationals.
Speaking to Ge Globo, the Premier League superstar spoke about his feelings over Alisson being left out of the South American giants’ squad for their March friendlies, with Brazil facing FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco this weekend in Tangier.
Brazil’s interim coach, Ramon Menezes, has opted to name a younger squad made up of players who recently won the U-20 South American Championship, with the likes of Thiago Silva, Bruno Guimaraes and Gabriel Martinelli also not being selected.
Yet Alisson’s absence has caused the biggest shockwaves, with the Liverpool keeper Brazil’s starting man for the last two World Cups and widely-considered the Selecao’s best player between the sticks. However, Ederson is now set to get a run out under Menezes.
Indeed, Brazil are heading into a new yet currently unknown direction following on from their disappointment at the World Cup in Qatar. And for Ederson, the decision to drop Alisson from the squad is one that caught the City star by surprise.
Ederson said: “The moment I saw the list I was surprised, but it’s the coach’s decision. They are choices, I thought he would be on the list, but he was not. I do not know why, if it is a matter of opportunities for younger players. But we have to work and to give our best, every day there is a good new player who can take that responsibility too.”
Ederson could make huge Brazil claim with Alisson now absent
Alisson has been Brazil’s starting keeper since 2015, and whilst Ederson has made some appearances for the footballing powerhouses, the Liverpool man has often been the man to start between the sticks for the Amarelinha. Yet this could soon change after this international break.
Whilst Ederson hasn’t been in the best of form this season for City, the former Benfica man knows that this will be his chance to shine for his national team, and Alisson could potentially lose his spot in the months to come for Brazil if his Premier League rival impresses under Menezes.