Goalkeepers in the modern game are required to be more than just shot-stoppers.
The ability to handle the ball with their feet has become an essential measure of determining a goalkeeper’s abilities as well as their fee in the transfer market.
A prime example of the case is Manchester City’s Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson Moraes.
The Brazil international arrived at Manchester City from Benfica for a then-record £35m fee paid for a goalkeeper by a British club.
His predecessors, Joe Hart and Claudio Bravo, were both deemed inadequate to meet Pep Guardiola’s possession-based tactical game.
Ederson, on the other hand, quickly convinced the coach with ball-playing skills.
The 26-year-old has since made 104 appearances in the Premier League and played a crucial role in last season’s domestic treble with City.
Besides being press-resistant, Manchester City No.1 also contributes heavily during the buildup phase.
However, the player decided to take it to another level in City’s recent loss against Southampton.
Ederson pulled out an outrageous pass from his locker in the first minute of the game, taking out 6 Southampton players at once and opening the space for Bernardo Silva to exploit.
Check out the pass below, the BBC panel just can’t seem to get enough of it –
Wow! What a pass from Ederson 👀 pic.twitter.com/RJrb9zuyvR
— Breezy (@UtdBreezy) July 5, 2020
Ederson pass to Bernardo Silva [Southampton – Manchester City] from r/soccer
