Any hopes on Merseyside of Manchester City heading into the season having lost goalkeeper Ederson to the Saudi Pro League have been dashed after a deal for the Brazilian broke down.
Speculation has linked the three-time Premier League Golden Glove victor with a switch to the Gulf State, with Al Ittihad having reportedly been tracking the player's availability this summer. However, it has now been claimed by Fabrizio Romano on Twitter/X that any move for 30-year-old is now off the table after the proposed deal did not "advance as expected".
Instead, the Saudi Arabian outfit have turned their attentions to the Mallorca stopper Predrag Rajkovic, who now looks set to join the Jeddah-based side. The Serbian will join household names including Karim Benzema, N'golo Kante and former Reds midfielder Fabinho at the club if the transfer is finalized.
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The news that negotiations have fallen through for Ederson to depart City will be music to the ears of Pep Guardiola too, who spoke in glowing terms about the goalkeeper during pre-season. Discussing the prospect of losing the five-time Premier League champion, he called on the star to resolve his future sooner rather than later.
"I’d like Ederson to decide his future as soon as possible. I only hope for him to stay with us," he said, before firing an impassioned plea the way of the player, adding: "He’s a person I love, who I want. He’s a ‘porterazo’ (great goalkeeper). If he has to go… with all the pain in the heart, I’ll understand."
It appears that these words from the Spanish coach left a lasting impression on the one-time Champions League winner too, who admitted his admiration for his boss after hearing those remarks. Speaking during City's pre-season tour, Ederson issued an update to supporters, saying: "There isn’t a decision yet.
"To hear Pep saying that was very gratifying. It’s now my eighth season with him living many good moments, also some bad ones. He’s a guy who is easy to work with, he’s a football genius and everyone knows that. So it’s really good to hear that from him.
Ultimately, the 25-time international confessed: "I’m happy here, having a good moment with my teammates, I’m enjoying as well to get my fitness back on track. I’m very calm, whatever happens is in God’s hands and he knows the right way to go. Whatever he gives me I’ll be happy with."
Having joined the club from Benfica back in 2017 for $45 million, Ederson has established himself as a modern-day legend at the Etihad Stadium. Winning the clean sweep of major honors during his tenure in Eastlands, he has appeared 332 times for the club en route to becoming one of the true stalwarts of the Guardiola era.
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