Manchester United’s pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson hasn’t been straightforward. But with Brazil now eliminated from the World Cup after a stunning 2-1 loss to Norway, the deal is finally expected to cross the finish line.
The 26-year-old Brazilian had his medical interrupted last month when Carlo Ancelotti called him into the squad as a late injury replacement. Wesley was the guy who got hurt, and even though he plays right back, Ancelotti saw enough versatility in Ederson to bring him along. That move says a lot about what the Italian manager thinks of Ederson’s adaptability.
That World Cup run ended badly. Ederson came off the bench against Norway with the score 0-0, and then Erling Haaland happened. Two goals. Brazil went home in the round of 16 for the first time in what feels like forever. It’s the worst World Cup finish in the country’s history.
Now Ederson heads to Manchester. The fee is reportedly around £39 million, with United and Atalanta having agreed terms last month. Club sources shut down rumors that United might pull out, and the Manchester Evening News reports the plan is for Ederson to retake his medical and sign as soon as he’s back from international duty.
He’s not exactly a household name in England yet, even though he put in a couple of genuinely great shifts against Liverpool during Atalanta’s 2024 Europa League run. But Serie A followers know him as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the league. High energy, can cover ground, gets stuck in.
Andrea Pirlo knows a thing or two about midfield play. He told the Daily Mail: “I think he is a player good for the Premier League. He is dynamic runner and intense. I think he is a player that can adapt really well there.”
That’s about as strong an endorsement as you can get from an all-time great. Pirlo’s been around, he’s seen every kind of midfielder come through Italy. If he’s betting on Ederson handling the jump to England, that carries weight.
The physical transition from Serie A to the Premier League has tripped up plenty of players. United’s own Joshua Zirkzee is a current example of someone who’s struggled to adjust. But Pirlo clearly doesn’t think that’ll be an issue here.
Ederson should be at Carrington within the next week or so, putting pen to paper and becoming the latest addition to Erik ten Hag’s midfield. United fans won’t have to wait much longer to see what Pirlo was talking about.
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