Before completing his transfer from Atalanta to Manchester United for up to 44.5 million euros (R$269 million), midfielder Éderson, 26, gained an even more valuable opportunity, to play in his first World Cup for the Brazilian team.
The player was called up this Sunday (7) by Carlo Ancelotti to replace Roma right-back Wesley, who was cut after suffering a muscle injury.
The decision draws attention because the coach gave up calling on another player in that position and opted to reinforce the midfield. Furthermore, Éderson arrives at the World Cup with just three appearances for the main team and could make his fourth appearance with the Brazil shirt at a World Cup.
Although he was on the expanded list of candidates for the call-up, the midfielder was not among the most popular names to join the group.
With him, Ancelotti reinforces a sector that initially had just five players: Casemiro, of whom Éderson has already declared himself a fan, Fabinho, Bruno Guimarães, Danilo Santos and Lucas Paquetá. On the other hand, the right side is without an original reserve. Defenders Ibañez and Danilo become the alternatives for the position during the World Cup.
The right-backs available in the pre-list were Paulo Henrique, from Vasco, and Vitinho, from Botafogo. Still, Ancelotti preferred to take another midfielder.
Before standing out in Italian football, the player revealed by Desportivo Brasil experienced moments of ups and downs in Brazilian football. He attracted attention at Cruzeiro precisely in the season in which the club was relegated to Series B. Afterwards, he had a promising start at Corinthians, but lost ground with the drop in performance. It was in Fortaleza that he established himself again and aroused the interest of the European market.
In 2022, he transferred to Salernitana. A few months later, his consistent performance in the Italian Championship took him to Atalanta, a club where he established himself as one of the league’s main midfielders.
Known for his intensity in marking, his ability to carry the ball and his ability to attack, Éderson became a fundamental part of the Italian team.
In total, he played 180 games for Atalanta, with 16 goals and 6 assists. As a starter, he helped the Bergamo club win the 2023/24 Europa League, a season in which he was also runner-up in the Italian Cup.
It was during this period that the opportunity in the Brazilian team arose. His debut took place in June 2024, in the friendly against Mexico. Afterwards, he played against Colombia, in the group stage of the Copa América, and also participated in the 4-1 defeat to Argentina in the Qualifiers, a match that marked the dismissal of coach Dorival Júnior.
The only time he started as a starter was against the Mexicans, when he remained on the field for 84 minutes in Brazil’s 3-2 victory.
Although he was part of Carlo Ancelotti’s first squad, in June 2025, he never took the field under the command of the Italian coach.
The opportunity now arises due to Wesley’s injury. The full-back suffered a problem with the adductor muscle in his left thigh during Brazil’s victory over Egypt, in a friendly to prepare for the World Cup. The injury was confirmed after tests carried out by the team’s medical department.
