Manchester United had agreed a deal to sign Ederson before pulling out of the transfer
Manchester United agreed a transfer fee with Ataltanta to sign Brazilian midfielder Ederson before making a dramatic U-turn.
Manchester United agreed a transfer fee with Ataltanta to sign Brazilian midfielder Ederson before making a dramatic U-turn.(Image: (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images))
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Manchester United summer transfer target Ederson says the injuries which affected his call-up to the Brazilian national team this summer were minor, after the Reds pulled out of a deal to sign the Atalanta midfielder. United had agreed a deal worth £35m to sign the 27-year-old as a replacement for the outgoing Casemiro, who left the club at the expiration of his contract.
However, upon medical examinations, United discovered a significant knee injury which was enough for the Reds to pull the plug on move. Instead, Michael Carrick's side swooped to sign Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba, with Ederson signing a new Atalanta contract.
The midfielder extended his contract through to the summer of 2031 and has opened up on the injuries which impacted his summer.
"I'm very well, as I've always been, actually. Physically, I can't complain. I've always been very blessed in that regard, I've always been well," he told Trivela.
"The injuries that affected my call-ups were minor. They kept me out for a few days, and I was just unlucky that they happened very close to the call-ups.
"That's why I always came back very quickly. I've never had any kind of injury that kept me out for a long time."
Ederson reacts
Ederson was on the cusp of a move to Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
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Ederson has stressed that he returned to the Serie A club early in an attempt to regain the fitness he lost during the tournament, claiming he did so without any problems.
He added: "I did the whole preparation without any problems, all the tests, and started the season as always. I'm very well to continue the season. And Atalanta know me very well."
Ederson has become the new Atalanta captain and started all four of their matches so far this season, reiterating that he has a good relationship with the club.
The midfielder said: "I always spoke a lot with the club, I have an excellent relationship here. Whenever this happened, with enquiries and offers, I asked what Atalanta’s intention was, what the project was, whether they were thinking of selling me, and they never thought about selling me."
It's the second time this summer that Ederson has addressed his failed move to United.
Speaking last month ahead of Atalanta's Europa Conference League play-off clash with Hapoel Tel Aviv about the failed move to United, he said: "I honestly don’t know what happened. I always had interest from other clubs, and I could've gone to another English side. The tests went well, I don’t know what changed.
"I've been with Atalanta for four years and always played. I could've just waited to see what happened, but the great rapport with the club convinced me to stay and sign a new contract."