Liverpool starlet Marcelo Pitaluga named in Brazil Olympic squad

Liverpool's Marcelo Pitaluga has been called up to the Brazil Olympic team, ahead of the next international break.

The 20-year-old goalkeeper has been with the Reds since 2020, when he signed from Fluminense.

Though yet to play a senior game for Liverpool, Pitaluga is highly rated at the club and has made the matchday squad on several occasions, as well as spending part of the 2022/23 season on loan at Macclesfield to aid his development.

Brazil Olympic (or Under-23s) coach Roman Menezes announced his 23-man squad on Tuesday, including the Liverpool youngster as one of three goalkeepers.

The delegation will spend the November international break in a training camp in São Paulo, preparing for the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament which begins at the start of 2024.

The tournament, which will run between January and February and held in Venezuela, will determine which two South American nations will qualify for the 2024 Olympic men's football tournament at the Paris Games next summer.

Other than Pitaluga, the only other squad member currently at an English club is Chelsea's 19-year-old midfielder Andrey Santos.

Speaking back in August, Pitaluga revealed how working alongside Brazilian legends at Liverpool like Alisson and goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel have helped him.

"I feel like I've learnt a lot being at Liverpool with such incredible players and, obviously for me, having Alisson here," Pitaluga told Liverpoolfc.com. "He is Brazilian as well and is one of the best 'keepers in the world.

"Working with him and the other 'keepers, plus John [Achterberg], Jack [Robinson] and Taffarel, has been really good. Taffarel has been really important, especially for us Brazilians.

"He is a Brazil legend back home, so for me as a young goalie there is nothing more I can ask [for] than working with Taffa and Alisson.

"Taffa and the other coaches are always speaking to me, saying I can improve this and improve that, but I can also talk to Alisson as well and watch him, which is the main part.

"He has definitely helped me off the pitch since I arrived but all the Brazilians have helped. Now he is the only Brazilian, apart from me, but all the South Americans help each other. It makes us all feel a bit more at home."