Manchester City has rejected a £25 million offer for their highly valued talent, Ederson Moraes, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. The club is reportedly unsatisfied with Al-Nassr’s latest bid for the goalkeeper.
Since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2016, City has maintained a policy of allowing players to leave at their discretion, provided the buying club meets their fee expectations, thus simplifying their sales process. However, if City feels the offer doesn’t meet their requirements, they will continue negotiations to ensure the best possible outcome.
Al-Nassr, a Saudi Pro League team boasting stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Aymeric Laporte, Sadio Mane, and Marcelo Brozovic, aimed to finalize a deal for Ederson within a week as of last Tuesday. Ederson, described as “amazing” by pundit Andy Townsend, has been seen participating in pre-season training with City, as noted on the club’s official Twitter page.
Romano reports that Manchester City has declined Al-Nassr’s initial €30 million (£25.2 million) offer for Ederson, stating the club “won’t accept this amount.” According to the Italian journalist, the 30-year-old goalkeeper has expressed a desire to join a Saudi Arabian team, but City is demanding over €50 million (£42 million) for his transfer. The final decision hinges on the negotiations between both clubs.
From City’s perspective, there is no pressing reason to sell Ederson this summer. Unless Al-Nassr is willing to meet their financial demands,
City should stand firm. Ederson remains one of the best goalkeepers globally and is crucial to Manchester City’s success. If Al-Nassr managed to sign him, Ederson would be one of the top-tier players in the Saudi Pro League.
Given Ederson’s significance to City, the club is justified in seeking a higher fee, potentially even more than £42 million. Therefore,
if Al-Nassr refuses to meet their demands, City should maintain their stance. They can either retain Ederson, who has been instrumental in their success, or sell him to a club that matches their valuation.
Ultimately, Manchester City’s firm approach in this situation underscores the importance of Ederson to their squad and their broader strategy of ensuring that any departures are both strategically and financially beneficial to the club. This ongoing negotiation highlights the complexities and stakes involved in high-profile transfers in the football world.
