The pivot everyone wants: Should Barcelona bet on Éderson?

FC Barcelona does not rule out signing another defensive pivot in the upcoming summer market, although the addition of a player for this position, unlike last summer, is not considered a priority. One of the names that, inexplicably, has not been mentioned until now on the Barcelona radar is Éderson dos Santos, a key figure for Atalanta, who just a couple of weeks ago managed to draw against Hansi Flick's team in Montjuïc (2-2).

The midfielder arrived at the Bergamasque team in 2022 and has become one of the best defensive pivots in Serie A, showcasing impressive physical power, technical quality, and notable striking ability. This season he has scored 4 goals and provided 2 assists in 35 matches (2,893 minutes) with Gianpiero Gasperini's side, three goals fewer than his scoring peak reached in the 2023/24 season (7).

At 25 years old, Éderson seems ready to make the leap to a big club in Europe after three and a half years in Italian football, where he has significantly improved his physicality and tactical discipline. Despite being a defensive player par excellence, the Brazilian has the luxury of covering a lot of ground, even helping the center-backs in defense, as well as providing safe outlets and depth to the usual vertical play of the 'nerazzurri' team. So far, he has made 125 official appearances with Atalanta, contributing offensively with 12 goals and 4 assists. 

Atlético and other 'big' clubs, keeping an eye on Éderson's future

However, Barça will have plenty of competition for the player from Campo Grande. Atlético de Madrid attempted, unsuccessfully, to sign him last summer, but Atalanta did not allow negotiations below 50 million euros. Gian Piero Gasperini urged the club to maintain the core of the team that won the Europa League in 2024, and the management did their homework. This season, the team has continued to achieve good results both in the league and in the Champions League, with a notable performance from the '13' in midfield.

The 'colchoneros' have stopped relying on Koke thanks to the good work of Rodrigo de Paul and Pablo Barrios, but Diego Simeone hopes to add another natural '5' to his squad next summer, and the Brazilian would fit perfectly into the 'rojiblanco' scheme. Meanwhile, clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City are also considering pursuing the 25-year-old player to solve their midfield issues.

Does Barcelona need to sign another defensive pivot?

For Barça, however, the emergence of Marc Bernal and Marc Casadó has generated a lot of calm regarding the future concerning defensive pivots. Additionally, the presence of Frenkie de Jong has provided much more solidity to the team this 2025, although the continuity of the Dutchman is not guaranteed. If they decide to part ways with '21', it is likely that the club will choose to sign another player for a position that, since Sergio Busquets' departure, has only recently found stability in the 2024/25 season.

Last summer, Joshua Kimmich was heavily linked, a very interesting alternative that could even arrive at 'zero cost' if he ultimately decides not to renew with Bayern Munich. The same goes for Thomas Partey, whose contract ends in June with Arsenal. If Barça opts to renew Frenkie, the management will almost certainly forget about signing another '5' this year.

This is Éderson dos Santos' contractual situation

For now, Atalanta has no intention of selling Éderson for a price lower than his market value (50 million euros), and the possibility of renewing him remains on the table. The 'Dea' paid 22.9 million for his transfer from Salernitana in 2022, signing him for five seasons. His net salary is around 2.5 million euros, a figure that the Bergamasque club must adjust soon if they want to retain the midfielder for at least another year.

Player technical sheet