‘Ederson to leave Man City for Saudi Pro League’ – Fans rage after Real Madrid
Man City fans have all said the same thing on social media after Ederson made a game-losing error against Real Madrid.
Man City were braced for an offer for Ederson from Saudi Arabia in the summer, before a conversation with Pep Guardiola convinced the former Benfica goalkeeper to remain in Manchester.
The Brazilian has been rotated with Stefan Ortega recently, but was back in the starting line-up for a crucial clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Saudi clubs reignited their interest in Ederson in January, but no deal was agreed and the goalkeeper remained with his current club.
City led 2-1 going into the 86th minute against Carlo Ancelotti’s men, thanks to two goals from Erling Haaland, who recently signed a new contract with Man City to make him the highest paid player in Europe.
But the Man City keeper left Guardiola furious after skewing a kick straight Jude Bellingham, leading to Brahim Diaz’s equaliser.
The Brazilian international was then slow to get off his line after Vinicius Junior stole a march on Rico Lewis, and the City shot-stopper could only watch as Jude Bellingham poked home to give Madrid the lead in the 92nd minute.
Ederson would be difficult to replace for Man City
Despite the understandable frustration from fans of the Sky Blues, Guardiola has always trusted Ederson, despite his sometimes questionable decision making.
Having let Joe Hart go when the Spaniard first took over at City – who was one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe at the time – the Catalan has shown a clear preference for a goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet.
Ederson has shown himself to be one of the best distributors of the ball in Europe, and his searching long-balls to Haaland and Omar Marmoush, who was signed from Frankfurt in January, give City an added dimension to their attacking build-up.
However, City fans posted on social media after the match, with one saying that Ederson had “singlehandedly ended City’s UCL campaign”, and another said the Brazilian had “dropped tools once he didn’t get his Saudi move.”