Brazil goalkeeping coach Taffarel says that Dunga took a risk in making Alisson Brazil’s first choice goalie in 2015, but the risk paid off.
At the time, Alisson was still at Internacional, with Botafogo goalkeeper Jefferson installed as first choice.
Despite a relative lack of top-level experience, Taffarel, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994, recalls when the decision was taken to depose Jefferson with a young Alisson.
“The first bet (on Alisson) was by Dunga, who gave him his debut and already knew him at Internacional,” he told Fox Sports.
“Dunga already had a very good reference, he liked his game. Jefferson was playing at the time and he was in a very good phase.
“But Alisson, in training, was showing great potential and then there was that game against Venezuela, in the qualifiers, and then we would play against Argentina.
“Dunga asked me if he (Alisson) could play against Venezuela and I said that he was ready It was there that, exchanging this idea with Dunga, the decision was made.
“We had a really big base, to see him at Internacional and in the Brazilian team, in training. I think it was a very good decision, because, at the time, he already showed great potential.”
