Alisson Becker Faces New Threat from Saudi Arabia After Juventus Interest
Liverpool thought they had shut the door. Juventus had been pushed back, Luciano Spalletti denied the reunion he craved with Alisson Becker, and a one-year option quietly triggered to keep the Brazilian at Anfield until 2027.
That was supposed to be the end of it.
Now a new threat has emerged from a very different direction.
From Turin to the desert
Earlier in the summer, Juventus made their move. Spalletti, who worked with Alisson at Roma in 2016/17, wanted his old No 1 back. Liverpool’s response was decisive. Sporting director Richard Hughes activated a one-year extension in Alisson’s contract, effectively locking him in for three more years.
Reports in Italy suggested Alisson was open to the idea of returning to Serie A. No agreement followed. The expectation since then has been simple: the 33-year-old would stay put and see out his deal on Merseyside.
That assumption now looks far less secure.
Al-Ittihad step up with major offer
In Saudi Arabia, Al-Ittihad have moved to the front of the queue. Prominent Saudi journalist Mohamed Bukairy claims the Jeddah club are close to landing the Liverpool goalkeeper in a deal that would take him to the Saudi Pro League.
“Al-Ittihad Club's management is close to signing Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, the guardian of Liverpool's den and the Samba national team,” Bukairy wrote on X, citing what he described as reliable sources.
Those same sources, he says, believe Al-Ittihad — known as the “Dean of Saudi Clubs” — have tabled a “tempting” offer worth more than €11 million per year.
The story doesn’t end there. Newly promoted Al-Diriyah are also said to be in the race, with Bukairy suggesting their interest is adding tension among Al-Ittihad fans desperate to “snag Alisson's gloves” for themselves.
Money, minutes and a growing dilemma
On Merseyside, Alisson is understood to be earning around £150,000 per week. The Saudi proposal, converted, would edge that up to roughly £179,000 per week in gross terms. Add in the favourable tax regime in Saudi Arabia and the financial pull becomes obvious.
For a player in his thirties, it is the kind of offer that forces a pause. A slight rise in headline wages. A significant jump in take-home pay.
There is also the question of his recent availability. Giorgi Mamardashvili saw plenty of action last season, covering for Alisson during another campaign interrupted by injuries. For all his brilliance, Liverpool have had to live without their No 1 too often.
That reality only complicates the picture. Do Liverpool double down on a world-class goalkeeper whose body has started to betray him? Or do they cash in and reshape the position earlier than planned?
Liverpool’s leadership drain
Any Saudi club still has a major obstacle to clear: Liverpool themselves.
Even if Alisson agrees terms with Al-Ittihad or Al-Diriyah, a deal cannot happen without Liverpool’s consent. Right now, that feels like a huge hurdle. The club have already waved goodbye to key figures in the dressing room this summer, with Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konaté all departing.
Strip out Alisson as well and the leadership core starts to look dangerously thin.
Liverpool have fought off Europe’s elite for their goalkeeper before. This time, the challenge is different: a booming league with deep pockets, a tax system that tilts the numbers, and a player at a career crossroads.
The money on the table is real. The interest is real. The question now is just how much more upheaval Liverpool are willing to tolerate in a single summer.
