Manchester United Ederson deal delayed after Brazil World Cup call-up

Manchester United's plans to complete the signing of Atalanta midfielder Ederson have reportedly been delayed after the Brazilian received an unexpected call-up to his national team's World Cup squad.

The 26-year-old had initially been left out of Carlo Ancelotti's selection for the tournament, seemingly allowing United to move quickly towards finalising a transfer. However, an injury suffered by another member of Brazil's squad has dramatically changed the situation.

As a result, Manchester United may now have to wait until after the World Cup before formally completing the move.

Reports suggest Manchester United have already made significant progress towards securing the midfielder's signature as Michael Carrick continues reshaping his squad ahead of the new season.

The club are preparing for a return to Champions League football and view Ederson as an important addition to strengthen the midfield.

However, plans have been disrupted after Brazil were forced into a late squad change just days before their opening World Cup fixture.

Roma defender Wesley suffered an injury during Brazil's final warm-up match against Egypt and was forced off early after sustaining an adductor problem.

Subsequent medical examinations confirmed the defender would be unable to participate in the tournament, leading the Brazilian Football Confederation to announce his withdrawal from the squad.

Ederson has now been selected as Wesley's replacement and is expected to join the Brazil squad immediately.

The decision represents a remarkable turnaround for the midfielder, who appeared set for a summer focused solely on his club future after initially missing out on selection.

Although primarily recognised as a midfielder, Brazil's coaching staff have opted to call upon Ederson because of his versatility and experience at the highest level.

Having followed Brazil's squad preparations closely in recent weeks, injuries have already forced several adjustments before the tournament even begins, highlighting the importance of maintaining depth across the squad.

For Ederson personally, the call-up offers a major opportunity to establish himself further within the national team setup.

Despite his inclusion, there is no guarantee the Atalanta star will feature prominently during the competition.

Ederson has only three senior international appearances to his name and has not played a significant role for Brazil since making a brief substitute appearance against Argentina earlier this year.

Competition for places remains fierce within Ancelotti's squad, meaning the midfielder may initially serve as a valuable squad option rather than a guaranteed starter.

Brazil have been drawn alongside Morocco, Scotland and Haiti in the group stage and will begin their campaign in the coming days.

According to reports, the World Cup call-up means Manchester United are unlikely to complete the transfer until July.

The club had hoped to finalise arrangements quickly, but Ederson's involvement with Brazil now complicates the timeline.

While the delay may frustrate supporters eager for new arrivals, there is currently no indication that the move itself is under threat.

However, it remains too early to draw firm conclusions until all parties are able to resume discussions following the tournament.

Ederson will now join Brazil's squad ahead of their opening World Cup group-stage fixture and attempt to impress Carlo Ancelotti during the tournament. His performances could further enhance his reputation before any club move is completed.

Manchester United are expected to continue working behind the scenes on the transfer, with the expectation that discussions will resume once Brazil's World Cup involvement comes to an end. If all goes according to plan, the midfielder could still arrive at Old Trafford later this summer.

Will Ederson prove to be the midfield signing Manchester United need for their return to Champions League football?