Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Manchester United’s summer began with a move to for Atalanta midfielder Ederson. This later collapsed.
The full story of Manchester United’s move for Ederson will no doubt be told at a later date. What we do know is that United agreed a £35 million move for the midfielder, before backing out. Medical grounds were later cited, while Ederson disputed that there was anything wrong with his fitness.
“I honestly don’t know what happened… The tests went well, I don’t know what changed,” Ederson told Sky Italia during the summer.
Manchester United pivoted and signed Youri Tielemans instead.
The jury is still out on United’s midfield business as a whole, with neither Andrey Santos or Carlos Baleba having much opportunity to make an impression so far. We are just five games into the season.
In the meantime, we have taken a look at Ederson’s current season for Atalanta to see how he has been getting on…
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Ederson at Atalanta
Ederson signed a new contract with Atalanta after his move to Manchester United fell through, and he was subsequently named as club captain.
With more than 160 appearances for Atalanta heading into the season, the defensive midfielder has played a key role again this season.
Ederson has started seven games in all competitions for the team, completing 90 minutes in five of them. There have been no signs of any fitness issues.
The trouble has been that Atalanta have won two and lost three of the five Serie A games they have played, including three consecutive defeats.
Ederson has scored once, while his total defensive numbers don’t exactly jump out from his five Serie A games.
Ederson Defensive Contributions Tackles Interceptions Duels won
Totals 26/27 9 3 2 14
Per game 26/27 1.94 0.65 0.43 3.02
Per game 25/26 5.44 2.38 1.13 5.44
Ederson has been far less effective for Atalanta this season, with his defensive contribution numbers sinking. He is averaging less than one tackle per game in Serie A.
Quite obviously, these are not numbers that suggest this is a player who could have changed United’s gloomy trajectory so far this season, had his move gone through.
Ederson explains challenge
Ederson’s Atalanta stay has been complicated by a change in manager, with the club appointing former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.
Speaking after a 2-0 loss to Juventus at the weekend, Ederson admitted that the tactical changes have required plenty of adjustment, with the team still learning.
He was quoted via TMW: “We’ve given it our all to learn what the coach wants, but this change also brings mental fatigue after so many years with the same system.”