Owen Hargreaves enjoys ‘unbelievable’ Manchester United transfer target, it’s like ‘two players’

His ferocious tenacity, his Brazilian brand of brutality, don’t grow on trees. Casemiro, at the height of his powers at Manchester United, wasn’t just a ball winner. The Real Madrid icon has also done his fair share in the final third, netting 12 goals during his Old Trafford career so far.

As auditions go, Ederson’s matchless performance during Atalanta’s 3-0 Europa League final was pretty special.

Atalanta’s Ederson shows why Manchester United like him

It is testament to the boundless energy levels and beautifully rounded skills of Ederson and Teun Koopmeiners that Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini felt confident enough to field his midfield duo against Leverkusen. trio of Granit Xhaka, Exequiel Palacios and the wonderful Florian Wirtz.

His faith, it’s fair to say, was rewarded. As Atalanta bullied and battered Leverkusen from pillar to post – shattering Xabi Alonso’s 51-match unbeaten run in the process – Ederson represented a stage of power, pragmatism and no shortage of purpose.

“Ederson was classy. It was absolutely first class,” Owen Hargreaves, a 2008 Champions League winner under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2008, told TNT Sports (May 22, 8pm).

“Ederson looks like he has a double there. It was everywhere.

For Hargreaves, Ederson’s brilliance was summed up late on as the former Brazil Under-20 international burst into the penalty area from his deep-lying role when Atalanta were 2-0 up. Like the aforementioned Casemiro, which is the place he can still fill in the United engine room, Ederson’s qualities are not limited to number six (Goal Brasil).

He has scored seven goals this season, furthering his reputation as one of the most complete midfield talents in Europe.

Watch out for the Duracell bunny. There might be a man after work.

“Somebody’s going to get it, you know. It looks perfect for anyone’s waist,” added the former Man United ace. “It’s like two players there! It makes me tired looking at him.

“A defensive midfielder going at the back at 2-0? It is unbelievable.”

The new Casemiro?

Ally McCoist, usually enthusiastic in his role as co-commentator, highlighted an “absolutely magnificent” block from Ederson in the 63rd minute as Atalanta kept Leverkusen at bay and Ademola Lookman’s stunning hat-trick earned the former player from Everton, Leicester and Fulham a place in footballing folklore.

Leverkusen were two games away from an unbeaten season and an amazing treble. That was, however, until they ran into Atalanta and Gasperini’s collection of bruisers and fighters.

Ederson, when Man United was linked at the start of 2024, was valued at around £17m.

If The red devils opt to attack Atalanta again – Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo have already swapped Bergamo for north-west England – feels like a ‘Bargain of the Summer’ signing all round.

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