Ederson has revealed that he became a goalkeeper worth £35 million to Manchester City due to being too lazy to play outfield.
The Brazilian made a big-money switch to the Etihad Stadium over the summer, with his transfer fee placing him only marginally behind Italy legend Gianluigi
Buffon on the list of the world’s most expensive shot-stoppers.
At just 24 years of age, the hope is that the South American will go on to enjoy a similarly productive career to a man who
has won just about every major honour in the game.
Ederson only finds himself in this
position, though, after taking the
decision in his younger years to drop back between the sticks after deeming defensive berths to be too strenuous.
He told Sky Sports on his positional path: "When I started playing football, I played
in defence as a left-back, but given that I was too lazy to run after the
opposition's attacking players I asked the coach to put me in goal and that's how my passion for the position was born.
"I instantly took a liking to it and then I just kept working hard until I finally made it to my first club."
Ederson started out within the youth ranks at Sao Paulo, but made a name for himself after moving to Portugal.
Benfica first took him on, but allowed him to spend time with Ribeirao and Rio Ave before re-signing him on a long- term deal in 2015.
Two years was all it took for the Samba star to put himself in the shop window, with Ederson aware of the interest being shown in him long before a dream switch to City was pushed through.
"Halfway through last season rumours started doing the rounds that Manchester City were interested in signing me," he added. "Other clubs were interested as well, but
I just wanted to keep doing what I was doing over there.
"When the season ended, my agent told me that Man City had shown the most serious interest. I was very pleased to find out that such a huge club wanted to
sign me. "On top of that, Pep Guardiola is a brilliant manager and the team is fantastic, so I felt very happy and honoured and now I'm here playing for
this great club." Ederson was given a baptism of fire in
England, with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane clattering into him to leave him requiring eight stitches to a head wound in just his fourth appearance.
He has, however, become a mainstay in Pep Guardiola’s side and now boasts 10
clean sheets in all competitions.
City will be hoping to see him secure another shutout when they face Premier League new boys Huddersfield on Sunday.