Ederson has been called into the Brazil squad for the World Cup.
After a late injury to full-back Wesley, Ederson has been selected by Brazil for a late call-up for the World Cup.
“In light of the diagnosis, the CBF announces the call-up of player Ederson, who will join the delegation this Monday in the United States,” a statement read.
Ederson is due to complete his move to Manchester United, and there is cause for fans to be alarmed about this latest development.
Ederson has been called into Brazil’s World Cup squad – What is your INSTANT REACTION
Ederson call-up: A concern
Ederson is Manchester United’s first signing of the summer with a £35 million fee agreed with Atalanta.
The deal is not quite official but is expected to be confirmed in due course. The World Cup call-up is an extra complication.
While the World Cup call won’t change Ederson’s move to United, it will have an impact on the club’s pre-season plans.
One of the reasons to feel optimistic about the early signing of Ederson was because he was not going to the World Cup and could link up immediately with Michael Carrick’s side in pre-season.
Now this won’t be the case.
As it stands; Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Ederson and even Tyler Fletcher will be away when pre-season begins.
International players are expected to rest for two weeks after elimination before joining up with their clubs.
This means Ederson will miss crucial time when he could have been settling into life in the UK on and off the pitch, getting to know his coaching staff and teammates.
It could be late July or even August by time we see him.
This matters less with Mainoo and Fernandes; but for a new signing, this is a critical time period.
With extra injury risk and fatigue due to training and travel, Ederson won’t be joining United fully fresh.
We have been here before. Fred struggled to adjust early on at United after his spell with Brazil at World Cup 2018.
Joshua Zirkzee had a late start in 2024 after playing for the Netherlands at the European Championships.
Pre-season is so important and it is a mini-disaster for United not to have Ederson available; for his own sake and for the team.
United will make further additions, potentially other midfielders who are not set for the World Cup.
At the moment we could be looking at a pre-season starting midfield duo of Mason Mount and Jacob Devaney.
There was always a risk that Ederson could get a late call, but United would have thought they would be safe.
What is your INSTANT REACTION to Manchester United’s deal for Ederson?
The positive side
There is of course a positive side to Ederson being called up. He gets the rub of being able to train under Carlo Ancelotti for a few weeks.
He will also be able to train alongside Casemiro and learn from the great midfielder who is set to leave United officially when his contract expires on June 30.
Casemiro may even be able to pass on some words of wisdom about life in Manchester.
And then there is the chance to form a bond with Matheus Cunha, his future Manchester United teammate.
Brazil were always going to be one of the must-watch teams this tournament, and Ederson makes this the case even more now.
Whether you are rooting for them to win, or to lose for an early Ederson return, is a question of personal choice…
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