He arrived to be Alisson Becker's successor, he had no chance at Liverpool and now he returns to Brazil

Brazilian goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga is set to return to his boyhood club Fluminense, according to reports in Brazil. The highly-rated shot-stopper, who was once touted as the "new Alisson Becker", has struggled to make an impact at Liverpool since his move in 2020.

Signed from Fluminense as a promising teenager, Pitaluga was seen as a long-term replacement for Simon Mignolet and a potential successor to Alisson. However, despite being handed the number 22 shirt, the Brazilian has failed to make a single first-team appearance for the Reds.

A series of loan spells to lower-league clubs in England, including Macclesfield, St Patrick's Athletic, and most recently Livingston, have failed to provide Pitaluga with the consistent first-team football he needs to develop. With Liverpool set to sign Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and uncertainty surrounding the future of Caoimhín Kelleher, the path to the first team appears even more blocked for Pitaluga.

Fluminense, where Pitaluga began his career, are keen to bring the goalkeeper back to Brazil. The Rio de Janeiro-based club believe that Pitaluga can still fulfill his potential and become a top-class goalkeeper. A return to his homeland would allow Pitaluga to play regular first-team football and rediscover his confidence.