Liverpool were made aware of Alisson five years ago...by an unlikely source.
The Brazilian is yet to concede since moving to Anfield this summer in a world-record fee.
Jurgen Klopp splashed out big money on Alisson, with many believing the goalkeeper could be the final piece of the Anfield jigsaw.
The Liverpool Echo reports Alisson was recommended to the Reds back in 2013 by forgotten Anfield man Doni.
Doni left Liverpool after just a handful of appearances but kept in contact with goalkeeping coach John Achterberg and told him about his countryman.
“John, you need to keep an eye on this kid at Internacional,” Doni told him. “He's going to be special.”
At the time Alisson was just 20 and having come up through the youth ranks at the Porto Alegre-based club he had been handed his senior debut in February 2013. Initially, he was the back-up to his brother Muriel.
From then on, Alisson was on Liverpool's radar. Achterberg kept close tabs on his progress, regularly watching hours of action from the Brazilian League and it was the Dutchman who first mentioned him to the club's recruitment staff as a potential target.
Doni was signed from Roma on a free transfer in 2011 as back up for Pepe Reina, spent just one season at Anfield
His four appearances for the Reds during Kenny Dalglish's reign came in the space of six weeks in the spring of 2012.
Doni belatedly got his opportunity after Reina was dismissed against Newcastle but after making his debut against Aston Villa his joy was shortlived.
After being sold short by a backpass against Blackburn, he rushed out and upended Junior Hoilett. The red card wrecked his hopes of walking out at Wembley in the all-Merseyside FA Cup semi-final four days later.
Doni started against Fulham and Swansea during the run-in but never played for the club again.
He was granted extended leave by the Reds in the summer of 2012 after suffering a cardiac arrest during fitness tests at Melwood. Following months of treatment in London and Rome, his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.
However, Doni's links were Liverpool didn't end there. Arguably, his most important contribution to the club arrived after he returned to Brazil.
His advice proved to be spot on.