Manchester United's £39m signing of Ederson explained: Club believes he can match Guimarães! Reason behind wearing the No.13 jersey revealed

Following the departure of a Brazilian holding midfielder, Manchester United have secured the services of another Brazilian midfielder. The club has confirmed the £39 million acquisition of Ederson from Italian club Atalanta. Although he cannot directly fill Casemiro's shoes, according to English outlets, United believe he has the potential to be on par with Newcastle's Bruno Guimarães.

Notably, Newcastle captain Guimarães was the player Casemiro recommended to United as his own replacement. However, due to his high price tag, United ultimately chose to look elsewhere for a new 'Guimarães'.

By the time he officially joins United in July, Ederson will soon turn 27. The club is confident he can surpass the impact of Manuel Ugarte, who has been sidelined by Carrick since a 1-0 defeat to Leeds United and is likely to be offloaded this summer.

Ederson cannot directly replicate Casemiro's role, as their playing styles differ. The 34-year-old 'Fat Tiger' relies on positional awareness and experience to read the game and control the midfield, contributing mainly through goals for United. In contrast, Ederson's strength lies in his superior athleticism, allowing him to cover more ground. He far exceeds Ugarte in ball possession and even surpasses Casemiro in this aspect.

The Daily Mail commented: "With Ederson, Manchester United fans can expect an all-action midfielder with outstanding stamina, who loves to cover every blade of grass. His intensity and aggression enable him to win back possession and drive the team forward. Standing at 1.88m, he has excellent heading ability and is rarely dispossessed."

Over the years, United have had a variety of Brazilian midfielders, from Casemiro, Fred, Andreas Pereira, Anderson, Rodrigo Possebon, and Kleberson. Some succeeded, but more were failures.

However, United are optimistic about Ederson's future due to his strong character and his ability to overcome setbacks to achieve success. In 2019, when Ederson made his debut in Brazil's top division, his home club Cruzeiro suffered a rapid decline. Cruzeiro, also the former club of 'Alien' Ronaldo, had won consecutive titles in 2013 and 2014 but fell to the second division due to extravagance and stadium scandals.

For Ederson, that was not an ideal stage to launch his professional career. Yet he did not go with the flow; while his teammates struggled, he stood out, catching the attention of another big club, Corinthians. He did not get much playing time there and was loaned to Fortaleza, where he again impressed, earning a move to Italy.

Ederson first played for Salernitana before moving to Atalanta, which made it difficult for him to break into the Brazilian national team, as his competitors had bigger names and were at more famous clubs. These included Guimarães from the Premier League, as well as Wolves duo João Gomes and André. Wolves were relegated from the Premier League this season, but both Gomes and André are far more famous than Ederson, having won the Copa Libertadores in Brazil.

Two years ago, under manager Dorival Júnior, Ederson was called up for the Copa América but was behind Gomes in the pecking order and barely played. For the upcoming World Cup, Ancelotti included Ederson in a 55-man preliminary list, but he missed out on the final 26-man squad, a result that surprised no one.

Observers believe Ederson should have left Atalanta earlier. If he had played for a big club like United, he would have more fame and a better chance of making the Brazil squad, much like Cunha, who will wear the No.9 jersey for Brazil at the World Cup.

But Ederson enjoyed his time in Bergamo, winning the Europa League with Atalanta in 2024. Now, he has finally decided to take the next step in his career by joining United, a move that could prove pivotal for his professional future.

United fans need not worry about Ederson getting lost in off-field indulgence, as he is a "family man." At Atalanta, Ederson wore the No.13 jersey because his wife, Mikaela Lobianco, was born on July 13. The couple met in 2019, married two years later, and now have two children. Mikaela recommended he choose that number, and Ederson firmly believes it brings him good luck.

If Ederson wants to continue wearing No.13 at United, he will have to negotiate with new teammate Patrick Dorgu, a 22-year-old Danish international who currently owns the shirt. Should Zirkzee leave, Dorgu might consider switching to No.11 and graciously allow Ederson to take No.13. Last season at United, Dorgu was nicknamed 'Red Devil Bale,' and as everyone knows, Bale only flourished after donning the No.11 jersey.