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Atalanta midfielder Ederson Silva has opened up about his injury situation after reports suggested his fitness issues played a part in scuppering a summer move to Manchester United.

Ederson came close to joining Manchester United during this summer’s transfer window. An agreement worth around £39m had been reached between the Red Devils and Atalanta, but the transfer eventually broke down.

The Brazil international had been on Manchester United’s shortlist for several transfer windows before the club intensified their interest in the summer. In the end, however, they shifted their focus to the £150m trio of Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos as they looked to sort out their midfield.

It had been claimed that there were concerns during Ederson’s medical, but the midfielder has now said he has been “very blessed” with injuries throughout his career.

He did, though, admit that he was managing “minor” injuries in the summer, and those may have contributed to him missing out on the move to Manchester United.

“I’m very well, as I’ve always been, actually. Physically, I can’t complain. I’ve always been very blessed in that regard, I’ve always been well,” Ederson said in an interview with Brazilian outlet Trivela.

“The injuries that affected my call-ups were minor. They kept me out for a few days, and I was just unlucky that they happened very close to the call-ups.

“That’s why I always came back very quickly. I’ve never had any kind of injury that kept me out for a long time.”

He added: “I did the whole preparation without any problems, all the tests, and started the season as always.

“I’m very well to continue the season. And Atalanta know me very well.”

On Manchester United’s transfer dealings, club legend Jaap Stam has explained where he feels they “needed to add something new”.

“It looks as if Manchester United are dealing with transfer windows in stages,” Stam told Betfred.

“We had the attack last summer, midfield this summer and defence possibly next summer, but I believe you always have to look at the areas that need strengthening at the time.

“I don’t think they needed a striker this summer because I believe in Sesko and I think [Joshua] Zirkzee can still do well for United. I would have liked to have seen a new winger signed this summer because I think they’re crucial for the style of play that United have.

“Marcus Rashford has stepped in and done really well, but can he keep that up? Bryan Mbeumo sometimes plays on the right, sometimes he plays down the middle, so I would have brought in a winger with a lot of pace that can create something.

“Defensively, the players in that area have played together for years and years, so I think they needed to add something new and I would have done that straight away if the opportunity was there.”