It says everything about Manchester City’s ­ball-playing keeper Ederson that his boyhood hero was a fellow goalie who also netted 131 goals during his legendary career.

Pep Guardiola’s £35million summer signing has revealed that his poster boy when he was growing up in Brazil was Sao Paulo’s legendary No.1 Rogerio Ceni – a man who was as lethal with his feet as he was safe with his hands.

During an incredible 1,257 games over 25 years, Ceni was a keeper good enough to win 20 trophies and 16 caps for his country.

He also scored a ­staggering 131 goals – most of them deadball strikes from free-kicks or the penalty spot.

Ederson used to be a defender and also hones his ball-skills by playing futsal (
Image:
Getty)

And it goes a long way ­towards explaining how ­Ederson has finally provided Guardiola with the sweeper-keeper the Spaniard wanted when he jettisoned ­England No.1 Joe Hart after arriving at City in the ­summer of 2016.

Ederson said: “I looked up to a goalkeeper who has retired now, Rogerio Ceni, who played with his feet.

“Ceni was very skilful – and he made history. He played for 25 years at Sao Paulo, more than 1,200 games, and that’s an inspiration.

“Hopefully, I can build a history like that. In old times, not many ­keepers could play with their feet, but modern football requires those skills because it’s changed.

Brazilian football legend Ceni helped Sao Paulo win the 2005 Club World Cup (
Image:
Reuters)

“I started playing in goal because I ­struggled to run as fast as the strikers and the other players out there. I was 10 years old. I asked my manager if I could play in goal and it was love at first sight. I enjoyed it so much. That’s why I ­became a goalkeeper.”

Guardiola ­decided Hart had to go ­because he did not have the skill-set to pass the ball out from the back. The Three Lions' keeper spent last season at Torino and is now at West Ham, after being loaned out again.

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Claudio Bravo endured a nightmare year after being brought in as the initial ­replacement for Hart. But Ederson has been a ­revelation since arriving from Benfica.

The boast inside the Etihad is that the ­24-year-old has the touch of a midfielder.

Not quite, but he explained: “When I started playing ­football, I began in the ­defensive line — it was important to me to learn some of the skills.

“I also played futsal, so that gave me skills with my feet as well and helped me a lot later on. So, already I had a lot of skills with my footwork and I work on that in training.

“Our team helps a lot, ­because we like to keep the ball and start with the ­build-up at the back. My team-mates help me because they give me a lot of options for my passes.

“It’s even easier playing for Pep because he works a lot with the team and that’s why we’ve started really well. Thanks to him, we are ­playing good football and doing a fantastic job.

“It’s been an amazing start to the season, but there are always things to improve. I train to improve and make fewer mistakes. On the pitch, I try to be focused and calm and think positive. That’s my attitude towards football.”

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Ederson has conceded just nine goals in 14 Premier League games, City winning 13 and drawing one.

And he said: “I’m not really surprised about how I have settled in because I used to watch a lot of the Premier League and knew a lot about the type of football. It’s very physical, very strong, but watching the games helped me to adapt.

“I’m really happy because ­the team is winning.”

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