Ederson’s new shirt number officially confirmed
Image Credits: Imago Images
Manchester United have all-but completed the signing of 26-year-old midfielder Ederson.
The Red Devils will confirm the £40 million coup in the coming weeks, who will sign a contract until 2030, but for now, their recruit is away with his national side.
Ederson was a late call-up for the national team after Wesley was forced to pull out just days before the tournament. The player officially remains with Atalanta for now, and has been handed a new squad number for Brazil.
For club, Ederson has worn the number 13 in his time in Italy, and various numbers 17, 8 and 24 for Brazil since his first call-up in 2023.
In the 2026 World Cup, which Brazil kick off in on Saturday night against Morocco, Ederson has been handed a new number, as shown in a Brazilian national team Instagram post.
The midfielder has been allocated the number 2 shirt, a more unconventional number for a non-defender. This appears to be because the player he replaced, Wesley, was a right-back. The simplest thing to do, rather than shift all the numbers, is to hand Ederson the same.
It remains to be seen whether or not Ederson will get any game time at the World Cup. As the most recent and final pick of Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad, it is unlikely he will be first choice.
Despite a report suggesting otherwise, Matheus Cunha was not named in Brazil’s XI to play against Morocco. The United winger, like Ederson, started on the bench, while outgoing Red Devils midfielder Casemiro was named in the heart of the team.
Ederson may have to bide his time for an opportunity with Brazil, but knows he will soon be a Manchester United player, and is under no pressure to impress any scouts this summer.
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