Roma full-back Wesley left the field in tears after just 15 minutes of Brazil's final World Cup preparation match against Egypt — a scan later confirming a torn adductor muscle in his left thigh that has ruled him out of the tournament entirely.
The Brazilian Football Confederation released a statement expressing regret, saying: "Wesley is a player much loved by the squad and will always be considered part of this team as it seeks to win its sixth World Cup title."
“Brazil's Wesley out of World Cup with thigh injury; Man Utd-bound Ederson replaces him, delaying transfer.”
His replacement is 26-year-old midfielder Ederson, who is expected to complete a £35m move from Atalanta to Manchester United in early July. The transfer had been agreed before the injury but is now delayed while Ederson joins Carlo Ancelotti's squad in the United States on Monday — just six days before Brazil's Group C opener against Morocco in New York.
Ederson, capped three times, was originally left out of Ancelotti's final 26-man selection despite being named in the expanded 55-man squad. He will now travel as Wesley's stand-in, with Brazil also facing Haiti on 19 June and Scotland on 24 June in Miami.
The call-up comes after Brazil beat Egypt 2-1 in Cleveland, with Bruno Guimaraes opening the scoring after seven minutes and Mostafa Zico equalising four minutes later before Endrick struck the winner shortly after half-time.
Ancelotti said he was "satisfied" with the performance: "I think the team played well, played with intensity, with rhythm, with good organisation, a lot of intensity in the pressing."
For Manchester United, the timing is awkward. Ederson was expected to undergo a medical and complete his move before pre-season training begins in July, but now his World Cup involvement means the transfer will be finalised later than planned. United have prioritised central midfield this summer after veteran Casemiro left the club and manager Michael Carrick lost faith in Manuel Ugarte, a £50m signing from Paris St-Germain in 2024.
Ederson has scored 16 goals in 180 games for Atalanta across all competitions and has proved adaptable across a number of central midfield roles. His late call-up, however, means Carrick will have to wait for his first signing to arrive at Old Trafford.