​Italian media outlets suggest Manchester United used the Ederson medical as a pretext to pull out of the €45 million deal with Atalanta, and as a result could now shift their attention to Roma’s France international Manu Kone instead. Several sources reported this evening that United informed Atalanta of their decision to walk away from the transfer, which had been agreed on June 2. The deal was set to be a €40.5 million fixed fee, plus up to €4.5 million in performance-related add-ons.
In Bergamo, Italy, on April 22, Ederson of Atalanta BC celebrated with teammates after scoring a goal that was later disallowed by VAR during the Coppa Italia match between Atalanta BC and SS Lazio at the New Balance Arena. The image captures the moment in the wake of Ederson’s involvement at the time. The two clubs had agreed to hold off on the medical tests until after Ederson completed his participation in the 2026 World Cup with Brazil, following an initial quick check-up conducted in the United States.
However, as weeks passed, Manchester United reportedly grew more cautious and requested a more thorough set of medical examinations. After 48 hours of those scans, the Premier League club informed Atalanta that they would not be proceeding with the deal. Italian media coverage of the situation indicates that Atalanta remains confident there are no serious fitness concerns with Ederson. They also believe it is no coincidence that United appears to have recalibrated their stance after rumors of increased interest in Roma midfielder Manu Kone.
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 30, Manu Kone, wearing the France kit, inspected the pitch before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between France and Sweden at the New York-New Jersey Stadium. The two players operate in very similar roles, making a dual signing around €100 million a sizable expenditure for Manchester United, even by their standards. With Ederson no longer moving to Old Trafford, it becomes far more plausible that United will pivot to a concrete bid for Roma’s Kone.
Kone has seen his stock rise significantly following his performances for France at the 2026 World Cup, where he displaced Aurelien Tchouameni from the starting XI at times and has since attracted substantial attention. The transfer landscape now points toward a United pivot toward Roma’s midfielder, who has demonstrated versatility and the ability to influence big matches on the world stage. If United are withdrawing from the Ederson pursuit, the next logical step would be to explore a structured approach to securing Kone, leveraging his elevated profile from the World Cup to negotiate favorable terms.
Man United face a strategic crossroads: maintain momentum with a high-value, long-term acquisition aimed at strengthening their midfield engine, or recalibrate their transfer strategy to pursue Kone, whose emergence on the World Cup stage has reinforced his standing as a premier option. The shift would align with Manchester United’s known preference for players who can contribute immediately at the highest level while fitting into the club’s broader tactical plans. As details unfold, the football world will be watching to see whether United formalizes a bid for Kone, how Roma responds in negotiations, and what this means for the broader market dynamics surrounding midfield talent in Europe.