Man City goalkeeper Ederson ‘was affected by praise’ for team-mate Stefan Ortega and could now leave the Eithad Stadium this summer, according to reports.
The Citizens face losing the Brazil international this summer with strong interest in the 30-year-old from the Saudi Pro League.
Football Insider have claimed that Ederson has been offered a ‘massive’ deal to move to Saudi Arabia and a ‘transfer is now a live possibility’ for the Brazilian.
It is understood that Man City and Pep Guardiola ‘are keen on keeping Ederson at the club and are set to offer him an extension to remain at the Premier League champions.’
But Guardiola hinted earlier this week that Ederson leaving is a possibility with the Man City boss waiting to “see what happens” this summer.
Guardiola told a press conference: “I don’t know – he has to see maybe now other options. Of course I’d like him to stay. Depends now the clubs. I don’t know the situation, no contact in the last days. A question of training and being with us until the transfer window finishes and we see what happens.
“He’s been the keeper for the team that has incredible success the last seven or eight years. We have an incredible three keepers, especially the two who play regularly. A really important position in the team. Really good team [of keepers]. We will see until the last day of the transfer window when anything can happen. Not just Ederson but many players.”
Man City are asking for around £50m for one of the best goalkeepers in the world with Ederson’s contract running out in the summer of 2026.
The Athletic have written a piece titled: ‘Why are Manchester City willing to sell Ederson and why does he want to go?’. And have brought reasons for Man City’s relatively low asking price, they wrote:
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‘You might wonder why City, since they were so desperate to keep him, would not just demand twice that fee. The issue here, though, is that Ederson does want to go and the club recognise that. While they do not want it to happen, they do not want to price a player who wants to leave out of a transfer, but they do not want him to go cheaply (say for less than £30million) either.’
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The report also reveals that Ederson was impacted by praise for Man City team-mate Ortega, who played 18 times in all competitions last season for Guardiola’s side.
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The Athletic added:
‘When Ortega signed a new contract in June, he was well aware of the situation surrounding his team-mate and knew there was a chance Ederson could leave. Ortega believed Ederson’s potential departure would boost his own chances of becoming No 1. While talks progressed with Ortega, who had been expected to leave, City lined up a move for a No 2 goalkeeper should he be needed, a deal that may still come into play.
‘Beyond the huge sums of money on offer, something else changed in the final weeks of the season. Ederson was affected by the praise Ortega received for his fine one-on-one save to thwart Tottenham’s Son Heung-min in the penultimate match of the season.
‘That moment, four minutes from the end of the match, has understandably been described as title-defining. Had Son scored, he would have probably earned a point for his side that would have — probably — handed Arsenal the title.
‘Ortega’s fine spread-eagle save spared City that huge shock — Guardiola fell onto his back as Son ran through — and he could then bask in a tidal wave of appreciation. Parts of that praise, largely from supporters, included a suggestion that Ederson himself would not have saved it.
‘Ederson had been forced off earlier in the match after receiving a huge blow to the head while keeping out a Spurs attack. In the days after the match, as the fallout continued to focus on Ortega, he posted two photos of his contributions to the match on his Instagram page, along with the caption, “No one understands, but me. See you soon.”
