In a remarkably candid interview that offers rare insight into the behind-the-scenes challenges at the Etihad, Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has revealed the profound impact a collapsed transfer to Saudi Arabia has had on both his personal journey and the club’s tumultuous season. Speaking with ESPN Brasil, the Brazilian shot-stopper painted a picture of a team in transition, struggling to maintain the exceptional standards that have defined the Guardiola era
For a club that has dominated English football with ruthless efficiency over the past half-decade, the 2024-25 campaign has represented an unexpected fall from grace. City, the reigning treble winners who seemed poised to establish a dynasty, now find themselves in the unfamiliar position of fighting merely to secure Champions League qualification.
“It’s been a very unusual season, especially when you look at the kind of football we’ve played in recent years,” Ederson explained, his normally guarded demeanor giving way to a more reflective tone. “There have been a lot of injuries and some individual performances haven’t been great. That’s football – you can’t always be at your best, and if the whole team isn’t functioning well, then a lot has to change.” The Brazilian’s words carry the weight of someone who has experienced both the dizzying heights of success and the harsh realities that inevitably follow. As one of Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants since his arrival from Benfica in 2017, Ederson has been integral to City’s revolutionary playing style, redefining the role of the modern goalkeeper with his exceptional distribution and composure under pressure.
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Ederson’s interview was his tacit acknowledgment of how a failed transfer to Saudi Arabia last summer has affected the dynamics at the club. While he didn’t explicitly state his desire to have made the move, his comments suggested a lingering psychological impact from the collapsed deal.
Industry insiders familiar with the negotiations have indicated that Ederson had reached an agreement in principle with Al-Nassr, where he would have joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the rapidly expanding Saudi Pro League. The financial package reportedly would have tripled his current wages at City, representing the kind of life-changing offer that few professional athletes can easily dismiss. However, the transfer ultimately fell through in the final stages when City couldn’t secure what they deemed a suitable replacement. With the season already approaching, Guardiola was unwilling to enter a campaign with uncertainty in such a crucial position, leading the club to pull the plug on negotiations despite having previously given Ederson their blessing to explore the opportunity.
This sequence of events created an uncomfortable situation where a player who had mentally prepared to embark on a new chapter was suddenly required to recommit to the project he had been ready to leave behind. While Ederson has remained professional throughout, his performance levels have fluctuated more than in previous seasons, suggesting that the psychological reset hasn’t been entirely smooth
Ederson’s struggles mirror those of the broader squad, which has failed to maintain the metronomic consistency that has been their hallmark. The goalkeeper pointed to an unusual concentration of injuries as a key factor, disrupting the carefully calibrated system that Guardiola has implemented. “When you lose key players for extended periods, it affects everything,” Ederson noted. “The patterns of play change, the chemistry between positions is disrupted, and suddenly what used to be automatic becomes something you have to think about. In this league, that split-second of hesitation is all it takes for things to unravel.”
City’s defensive solidity, once the unheralded foundation of their success, has deteriorated significantly this season. The team has conceded more goals at this stage than in any previous campaign under Guardiola, with uncharacteristic individual errors compounding tactical vulnerabilities that opponents have increasingly exploited.
In midfield, the impending departure of Kevin De Bruyne—who delivered a masterclass in the recent 5-2 comeback victory against Crystal Palace—looms large over the squad. The Belgian maestro’s brilliance has often papered over cracks elsewhere, but his announcement that he will leave in the summer signals the end of an era and has created an atmosphere of uncertainty about the future direction.
Perhaps the clearest indication of City’s decline came in their Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid. The 6-2 aggregate defeat in the Round of 16 represented not just a premature exit from a competition they had finally conquered last season, but a symbolic passing of the torch back to European football’s traditional aristocracy. Ederson’s expression visibly darkened when discussing this particular failure. “The Champions League is special to us, especially after finally winning it,” he said. “To go out like that, it hurts in a different way. It makes you question things.”
That questioning has apparently extended throughout the club. Sources close to the City dressing room suggest that Guardiola’s intensity, once the catalyst for their relentless excellence, has at times bordered on counterproductive this season. The manager’s own contractual uncertainty—his current deal expires in 2025—has added another layer of complexity to an already challenging environment
With their title defense effectively over, City’s focus has narrowed to securing Champions League football for next season. Currently sitting fifth in the Premier League table following their victory over Crystal Palace, they find themselves in the unfamiliar position of looking over their shoulder rather than setting the pace. “Qualifying for the Champions League is non-negotiable,” Ederson stated firmly. “For a club of this stature, for players at this level, not competing in Europe’s premier competition would be unacceptable. It’s about pride, but it’s also about the club’s future in terms of finances, recruitment, everything.”
The financial implications of missing out on Champions League football would indeed be severe. Beyond the direct revenue loss from participation—estimated at a minimum of £80 million—there would be reductions in commercial deals that have performance-related clauses tied to European competition. This could create a spiral effect, limiting City’s ability to refresh the squad at a time when several key players are approaching or passing their peak years. Despite the challenges, there have been bright spots in Ederson’s individual season. He has recorded four assists—an extraordinary number for a goalkeeper—including one in the recent victory over Palace where he set up James McAtee with a characteristic pinpoint long pass.
This attacking contribution highlights the Brazilian’s unique skill set, which continues to influence how the goalkeeper position is viewed across football. His ability to function essentially as an additional outfield player in build-up play remains unmatched, even as other aspects of his game have shown inconsistency this season. “I take pride in contributing to the attack,” Ederson said with a rare smile. “It’s something I’ve always had in my game, even before coming to City. Pep has encouraged me to express that side of my play, and when it leads to goals, it’s a special feeling.”
Yet these moments of brilliance have been interspersed with uncharacteristic errors that have cost the team. His previously impeccable concentration has wavered at times, leading to questions about whether the failed transfer and the subsequent readjustment have affected his focus. With their Premier League and Champions League ambitions derailed, the FA Cup represents City’s last chance to salvage silverware from a disappointing season. Their upcoming semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Wembley offers an opportunity for partial redemption.
“We have to approach the FA Cup with everything we have,” Ederson insisted. “It would be easy to let the disappointments of the season weigh us down, but that’s not what champions do. One trophy is better than none, and winning at Wembley always feels special.” Victory in the competition would provide some consolation, though it would still represent a significant step back for a team that completed the treble just last season. For Ederson and several other senior players, it could also potentially serve as a farewell gift to the supporters who have celebrated their numerous triumphs.
As the season approaches its conclusion, questions about Ederson’s long-term future at City persist. While he remains under contract until 2026, the goalkeeper’s comments suggest a player who hasn’t entirely reconciled with how events unfolded last summer. “In football, you learn quickly that certainty is rare,” he reflected. “I’m focused on finishing this season strongly and helping the team secure Champions League football. Beyond that, we’ll see what happens.
Industry sources indicate that Saudi interest in Ederson remains, with clubs in the oil-rich kingdom still eager to attract high-profile players who can elevate the professional standard and international profile of their league. Whether City would be more amenable to a sale this summer, particularly if they have lined up a successor, remains to be seen. What is clear is that the relationship dynamics have shifted. The implicit understanding that existed between club and player—that exceptional service would be rewarded with flexibility when personal opportunities arose—appears to have been strained by last summer’s events. While there is no open animosity, there is a sense that the bonds of loyalty have been tested
Ederson’s situation cannot be viewed in isolation from the wider context at Manchester City. The club finds itself at a crossroads, with several key players approaching or passing their peak years and Guardiola’s own future uncertain beyond 2025. The remarkable generation that delivered unprecedented domestic success appears to be reaching its natural conclusion. Alongside De Bruyne’s confirmed departure, question marks hang over the futures of other stalwarts like Bernardo Silva and İlkay Gündoğan, who have been central to City’s success but may seek new challenges as they enter the later stages of their careers.
This transition comes at a particularly challenging time for the club, which continues to operate under the shadow of 115 charges of alleged financial irregularities brought by the Premier League. While City vehemently deny any wrongdoing and are fighting the charges, the case represents an existential threat to their standing in English football and has created a siege mentality within the organization. For players considering their futures, this uncertainty adds another layer of complexity to their decisions. The potential for severe sanctions, including point deductions or even relegation if the charges are proven, casts a long shadow over long-term planning
Despite these challenges, City’s financial resources and organizational structure position them well to navigate this transitional period. The appointment of Txiki Begiristain as Director of Football and the broader City Football Group infrastructure have created a sophisticated recruitment operation capable of identifying and securing the next generation of talent. Young players like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Erling Haaland represent the future. Their continued development, alongside strategic additions in the transfer market, will be crucial to maintaining City’s competitiveness as the current cycle reaches its conclusion.
For Ederson, this rebuilding project may ultimately determine his decision about whether to commit his future to the club or seek a new challenge. At 31, he remains in his prime years as a goalkeeper, with potentially another five seasons at the elite level ahead of him. “I love this club and what we’ve built here,” he concluded. “The success we’ve had together, the way we’ve changed how people see football in England—these are things I’ll always be proud of. But football moves quickly, and sometimes you have to make difficult decisions.”
As Manchester City navigate the final weeks of a disappointing season, Ederson’s revelations provide valuable insight into the human side of elite football. Beyond the tactics and the techniques, the psychological aspects—dealing with uncertainty, managing disappointment, reconciling professional ambition with personal circumstances—often determine success or failure at the highest level.
The Brazilian’s performance in the coming weeks will be crucial to City’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification and potentially adding the FA Cup to their trophy cabinet. Beyond that, his situation exemplifies the delicate balance clubs must strike between retaining their key assets and respecting the individual aspirations of players who have served them with distinction.
Whatever the future holds for Ederson and Manchester City, their partnership has redefined the role of the modern goalkeeper and contributed to one of the most successful periods in English football history. That legacy remains intact, even as both parties contemplate what might come next in their respective journeys.
For now, the focus remains on salvaging what they can from a season that has fallen well short of expectations. In the unforgiving environment of elite football, yesterday’s triumphs quickly fade from memory, and only the present performance truly matters. As Ederson and his teammates have discovered this season, maintaining excellence is perhaps an even greater challenge than achieving it in the first place.
