Manchester, Sep 2 (AP) Brazil's renowned goalkeeper, Ederson Moraes, has concluded his illustrious eight-year spell at Manchester City to embark on a new journey with Turkish giants Fenerbahce. His position at City is anticipated to be filled by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Since his arrival from Benfica in 2017, Ederson has claimed an impressive tally of 18 trophies with City, fundamentally transforming the goalkeeper's role with his exceptional ability to distribute the ball and initiate attacking plays using long, precise passes.
The switch to Fenerbahce was officially declared on Tuesday, shortly after the closure of the summer transfer window for English clubs, though it remains open in Turkey. “I arrived in Manchester eight years ago full of hope, but I could not have predicted such a beautiful time together,” expressed the 31-year-old Ederson. In agreement, City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, remarked that Ederson’s “skills and bravery have been crucial in helping City play the beautiful football we have seen.”
The transfer to Fenerbahce, pending international clearance, appears to facilitate Donnarumma’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, a strategic move that seems uncharacteristic of City’s historically possession-oriented approach under Pep Guardiola.
Donnarumma, recognized as one of the world's elite shot-stoppers, earned acclaim as perhaps the premier goalkeeper in Europe last season, with standout performances during the Champions League's knockout rounds contributing to PSG's inaugural European champion title.
Despite this, the Italian international's expertise lies less in ball distribution from the back—a skill typically essential for goalkeepers in Guardiola-managed squads.
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