Manchester United have kicked off their transfer window with a deal for Ederson, and Italian football experts are the best ones to gauge the deal.
For a player signed well before the transfer window officially opens, Ederson has curiously divided opinion among Man Utd fans.
A wholesale midfield rebuild kicking off with a £38m signing who hasn’t been called up by his national team doesn’t exactly set pulses racing.
However, things are not as simple as that, as Serie A experts have given their take on a player who is getting too easily disrespected before kicking a ball for Man Utd.
What is your INSTANT REACTION to Manchester United’s deal for Ederson?
Serie A experts on Ederson
After Man Utd reached an agreement to sign Ederson, the most common sentiment among fans was one of cautious optimism.
Sure, there are some concerns about his quality, but the fact is that he needs to be given a chance to prove himself before being declared not good enough.
Nobody is better suited to refute those lazy judgements than people who watch Serie A for a living.
Matteo Bonetti, a lead Serie A analyst since 2012, said, “Enjoyed watching him at Atalanta. Such a solid and complete box-to-box midfielder. Have a feeling United fans will love him.”
Serie A expert Adam Summerton said, “Has been a big part of Atalanta’s success and – at nearly 27 – is as ready as he’s ever going to be for the step to a club of United’s size.
“Brings a big work rate, experience, physicality, midfield versatility, good passing range, technical ability and a proven mentality.
“No such thing as a dead cert though – fascinated to see how he adapts to the quicker pace/added physicality of the PL – the tactical differences a challenge too – will be interesting.”
Summerton went on to add that his omission from the Brazil squad doesn’t mean anything, since it’s simply a philosophical mismatch.
For example, fans are frothing at the mouth to sign Adam Wharton, who isn’t called up for the England squad by Thomas Tuchel.
Finally, James Horncastle, The Athletic’s Serie A expert, wrote that Ederson is like ‘Pac-Man ‘, in that he eats up the ground like no one else.
If he just adds consistency to his game, this could be a very shrewd signing for the club.
Ederson will add legs to Man Utd midfield
In all the assessments of Ederson’s qualities, his ability to cover the ground keeps coming up, which is exactly what United need.
Now the Ederson deal is agreed… WHO SHOULD BE MAN UTD’S NEXT TARGET?
Let us know who should be signing number two…
They had to make Casemiro work in the midfield last season by creating the team in a way that minimised his running distances.
With Ederson in the pivot, they can be more attacking, knowing that the Brazilian is effectively two players in one due to his work rate.
That is the exact kind of skill set this United squad had been missing, and Ederson provides plenty of it.
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