Author: Monojit Mandal
In an unexpected turn of events, Brazilian attacking midfielder Anderson Talisca, who was previously labeled “crazy” for playing for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr two years ago, has emerged as an advocate for the development of the country’s soccer. Not only is he vying for a coveted place in the Brazilian national team, but he also wants to join Corinthians, a legendary Brazilian club.
Talisca’s transformation from skepticism to hope parallels the development of Saudi Arabian soccer. The 29-year-old marveled at the rapid expansion of the country’s league, which was boosted by an infusion of renowned acquisitions in 2023, especially during the mid-year transfer window. Talisca’s experience has nurtured a strong understanding of the country’s soccer scene, having shared the field with luminaries such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Mané at Al-Nassr, as well as challenging his skills against giants such as Benzema at Al-Ittihad and Neymar at Al-Hilal.
Talisca spoke about his background and the huge difference in perspective in an exclusive chat with Canal Goat. “When I came here, people said I was crazy; and today, Saudi Arabia is gaining a very big dimension, which even I didn’t expect,” he revealed. “I knew there would be an evolution, and that’s why I came two years ago, but I didn’t expect it to be so fast.“
The pinnacle of Talisca’s ambitions is undoubtedly a call-up to the Brazilian national team. He is convinced that players who play in Saudi soccer should be considered for the national team, especially given the attention paid to Neymar’s presence at Al-Hilal. Talisca’s credentials speak for themselves: he finished second in the Saudi League in 2022/23, with a remarkable 20 goals in 23 league games. This statistic was very similar to his performance in the 2021/22 season, when he scored the same number of goals in the same number of games.
Talisca is sure that his prodigious output and undeniable influence will benefit the national team. People will stop saying that an Asian player from Saudi Arabia can’t make the national team… now they’ll have to include Neymar”. The midfielder’s determination is clear, as he has overcome previous periods of little recognition. His request is simple: if Saudi Arabian players are worthy of being considered for the national team, Talisca should be a natural inclusion, guided by the unwavering authenticity of his achievements.