Manchester United’s pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson is definitively over, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Red Devils had triggered the player’s €40 million release clause and agreed personal terms, but a subsequent medical examination revealed an undisclosed issue, reportedly concerning his knee, which led to the club halting the transfer.
Ederson was sent back to Atalanta, leaving United to pursue alternative midfield options. The club has since completed deals for Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, though speculation persisted about a potential return for the Brazilian if they failed to secure a further high-profile signing.
However, Romano reported that Atalanta director Cristiano Giuntoli confirmed the deal is “completely over,” dismissing suggestions of a possible revisit in August. Giuntoli expressed surprise at United’s decision, stating the club hadn’t anticipated the transfer falling through. Atalanta have now offered Ederson a new contract in an attempt to retain his services.
The breakdown of the deal represents a setback for Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, who is seeking to improve mobility in the midfield. While Santos and Tielemans offer technical quality, they are not known for their pace, a weakness also present in Kobbie Mainoo’s game. The club had previously missed out on targets Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, who joined Manchester City and Tottenham respectively.
Carrick is now focused on identifying a central midfielder who can complement Mainoo, Tielemans, and Santos, prioritizing pace and work rate. The failure to secure Ederson, who could have addressed this specific need, leaves United with a challenge to find a suitable alternative before the start of pre-season training at Carrington.
