Ederson is essential for Atalanta in 2025, so why did Brazil ignore him for so long?

epa11737280 Atalanta’s Jose Dos Santos Ederson jubilates with Mateo Retegui after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match Parma Calcio vs Atalanta BC at Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, Italy, 23 November 2024. EPA-EFE/SERENA CAMPANINI

It is perhaps surprising that it has taken Brazil so long to call in Ederson when he has been the core of the Atalanta midfield for almost three years.

The 25-year-old was brought in today as a late addition to the squad for their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifier against Argentina.

He is only picked after injuries and suspensions forced Gerson, Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes to leave the camp, along with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Ederson has just two senior caps for Brazil, earned in June and July 2024, where he was part of the Copa America squad.

However, he was simply not called back until now, despite being a key figure in the Atalanta midfield that won the Europa League in 2024 and this season is third in Serie A.

In that 3-0 Final victory against Bayer Leverkusen, Ademola Lookman got all the headlines for his hat-trick, but Ederson quietly went about completely neutralising Jeremie Frimpong.

Ederson going from strength to strength with Atalanta

This has been one of his best campaigns, as Ederson contributed four goals and two assists in 41 competitive matches.

That includes a ferocious strike in the 2-2 thriller away to Barcelona in the Champions League in January.

His form has attracted interest from several Premier League sides, including Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.

First coming to Italy with Salernitana in January 2022, he was sold to Atalanta for €22.9m just six months later.

He is hardly the first to have flourished under the guidance of coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who unleashed the player’s constant running and dogged determination to relentlessly chase down passes, becoming perhaps the most important figure in his high press approach.

Maybe Brazil have tended to prioritise quality over this kind of box-to-box work ethic, but it is an area where they have traditionally been lacking and should be leaping at the chance to have him included.

Ederson is also improving when it comes to the attack, having scored only once in his debut season, seven in the second and already four by March this term.