Alisson joined Napoli from Sporting CP in January on an expensive loan of €3.5million, with an option to buy at €16.5million — a total investment of €20million if confirmed. His form since breaking into the starting lineup has left the club in no doubt about the decision.
The Brazilian scored the equaliser in Napoli's 3-2 defeat to Bologna on Sunday — his second goal in three consecutive starts, following efforts against Cremonese and Como. In total he has four goals in 746 minutes wearing the Napoli shirt, a return that barely tells the full story.
His eight league-winning direct dribbles per match and his ability to isolate opponents one-on-one have given Conte's side an attacking dimension that was absent earlier in the campaign.
Napoli's entire offensive game plan now flows through him. His teammates seek him out whenever there is space on the flank, knowing he can create numerical advantages in areas where other forwards cannot. Conte has described him as a "knife" — sharp, direct and lethal in the right situation.
Alisson joined Sporting CP from Cruzeiro in 2022 for around €3million and developed quietly in Lisbon before catching Napoli's attention during the autumn. He was initially brought in as cover for the injured Giacomo Raspadori but made the role his own within weeks of arriving.
The buy option is expected to be formally triggered before the end of May, making him one of the most cost-effective pieces of business Napoli have completed under Conte's management. Whether he can maintain this level across a full Serie A season — and potentially a Champions League campaign — is the question his club are now confident the answer to is yes.