Stoke City goalkeeper Joe Bursik might have only been handed a Championship breakthrough this season, but he's already caught the eye of Liverpool shot-stopper Alisson Becker.
The 20-year-old spent part of last season on loan with Accrington Stanley and went viral on social media after asked by manager Jon Coleman to step up for free-kick duties after whipping a 30-yard effort into the top corner in one training session.
Now first-choice at Stoke following a goalkeeper injury crisis, the England Under-21s international has the Potters' signing of former Red Andy Lonergan last month to thank for finding out for finding out he was the talk of the Melwood dressing room last season.
"Andy Lonergan came in for the last month (on a short-term contract) and said to me one day Alisson came into training watching a video with a keeper taking free-kicks," Bursik recalled to the Daily Mail. "He said 'Lonners, Lonners, is this in England?'
"Lonners said 'Yeah, it's in League One' and obviously they were talking about me.
"Alisson was apparently just saying 'I don't believe it, I don't believe it.' He couldn't believe it was in proper, professional football.
"It was a funny thing to hear."
One can only assume Alisson was equally amused by compatriot Rogerio Ceni's free-kick-taking prowess, with the the legendary Brazilian scoring 131 goals during his 23-year career with Sao Paulo.
