Macclesfield FC have signed Liverpool youngster Marcelo Pitaluga on a season-long-loan.
The highly thought-of Brazilian will spend the season in East Cheshire, with a club famous for having former Premier League footballer and pundit Robbie Savage on their board of directors.
The 17-year-old caught the attention of Liverpool's goalkeeping coach, John Achterberg, in the Brazil squad that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
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He was already playing for Fluminense's reserve side at the age of sixteen where he worked with Alisson Becker’s brother and fellow goalkeeper, Muriel Becker.
He signed for Liverpool in October 2020 for an initial £1 million - potentially rising to £1.8m.
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Thus it will come as a surprise as to why Liverpool have sent him to feature for a side in step four of the National League tier system.
The team also features former Premier League players Zeki Fryers, formerly of Manchester United, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, and Neil Danns, who scored 21 goals in 31 matches in the North West Counties League Premier Division last season.
Director of Football Savage has taken to social media to praise Liverpool for their amicability in completing the deal with a side of Macclesfield’s stature.
“Incredible signing,” wrote the former Premier League midfielder. “Thank you to LFC in trusting us with their young players, well done to all involved making this happen.”
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The club is a Pheonix of Macclesfield Town, who were liquidated and expelled from the National League in 2020 because of debts of over £500,000. Its assets were put up for sale, including the Moss Rose Stadium.
The club were bought by Robert Smethurst in October 2020 with the intention of reinstating them in the football league as Macclesfield FC, and in March of this year became the first club in England to guarantee a promotion.
Signing a player of Pitaluga’s potential and stature is definitely likely to raise the profile and interest of the Silkmen amongst Liverpool fans, and even those who keenly follow Brazilian football.
Topics: Robbie Savage, Liverpool, Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours
Chris Stonadge