Atalanta's Ederson Replaces Injured Wesley in Brazil's World Cup Squad

bet365 News Team Published: 15 hours ago

Atalanta's Éderson has been called up to the Brazilian national team for the World Cup, stepping in for Roma full-back Wesley, who was forced to withdraw due to injury.

Wesley sustained the injury during Brazil's 2-1 friendly victory over Egypt, prompting coach Carlo Ancelotti to select the Serie A midfielder as his replacement.

The 26-year-old, a native of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, becomes the first player from his state to be named to the national squad. Coincidentally, Wesley was also the sole representative from his home state of Maranhão among the original 26 players.

Éderson has been a standout performer in Italy's Serie A for some time. His impressive displays for Atalanta have reportedly attracted interest from several of Europe's top clubs, though the Bergamo-based team has so far managed to retain his services.

Although primarily a defensive midfielder, Éderson is known for his remarkable versatility. Under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, he has been deployed in various roles, including full-back, attacking midfielder, and even as a right-sided wing-back.

International Career

Éderson has earned three caps for Brazil, accumulating a total of 107 minutes on the pitch. He has yet to register a goal or an assist for the national team.

Club Career

Éderson began his career at Desportivo Brasil, a São Paulo-based club owned by the Luneng Group, which also owns Shandong Luneng in China. He made his professional debut with Cruzeiro in 2018, followed by stints at Corinthians and Fortaleza before moving to Italy in 2022 to join Salernitana.

He excelled at the Salerno club during the 2021/22 season, catching the eye of Atalanta scouts. In 2022, Atalanta secured his transfer for a reported €15 million. Since joining the Bergamo side, Éderson has continued to impress, with major European clubs like Manchester United reportedly monitoring his progress.