Alisson Becker has given his view on Liverpool’s pursuit of Georgia goalkeeper
Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Liverpool are nearing an agreement to sign Mamardashvili from Valencia in a €35m deal, with the 23-year-old having impressed during Georgia’s tournament debut at Euro 2024 in the summer.
The move for Mamardashvili comes as a surprise to some, with Alisson recognised as one of the world’s best goalkeepers and cemented as number one at Anfield. Mamardashvili is set to remain on loan with Valencia for at least the 2024/25 season with his arrival part of a succession plan, with Alisson set to turn 32 in September.
The latter believes Liverpool are making the right decision in planning for the future but insists he is keen to continue at Merseyside for as long as possible.
“The club needs to prepare for the future,” he said. “We are not going to last forever here, I am getting old! No, for a goalkeeper I am still young, I have a lot of energy and I still have much to give for this club and I want to give to the club as much as I can.
“They will do it for different positions as well. We have so many important players with the contract expiring and the club needs to organise themselves for the future.
“I think it was a good idea. I knew about that [Mamardashvili] before it came out on social media and that is a good message for me because the club cares about what I think. They are doing the right thing but, on my side, as long as I have my contract here and as long as I am happy here, the club is happy with me, my family is happy here, [so] I will stay.”
Alisson is contracted to Liverpool until 2026, though revealed he has received ‘attractive’ proposal from the Saudi Pro League.
“I want to honour my contract and finish my contract here or make a new one. I am really happy here. My family is happy.
“I never got to the point where I was talking about wages. It was just interest, but when you hear about the numbers the other players are getting [in Saudi Arabia] you are a little bit attracted. That is normal.
“At the end of the day, you play football for love, it is the thing you like to do, but it is our profession and we want to use the years that we have to make the most of it. I am open to that, but now is not the time. I am really focused on the things we have here at Liverpool and while I still have my contract here, I will be focused here.
“If it is in the interest of the club to negotiate, then it will be a different conversation. At this time, at this window, I am focused on my job here and my life in Liverpool.”
