In the summer of 2023, Manchester United spent 51 million Euros (43.9 million pounds) to recruit Andre Onana from Inter Milan, with the expectation of opening a new era in goal. After more than a decade of working with David de Gea, the "Red Devils" want a more modern goalkeeper such as playing well with his feet, building a playing style from the back or turning defensive pressure into an attack opportunity. At that time, Onana was considered a person who was in line with Ten Hag's philosophy.
However, after only 2 seasons, Onana had to leave Old Trafford to go to Trabzonspor on loan. The Cameroonian goalkeeper has never been the complete model that Ten Hag and Amorim wanted. The 29-year-old star is an expert in a clear, stable and highly organized system.
At Ajax, Ten Hag built a machlar rotating squad, giving Onana the peace of mind to take a risk with the ball in his feet. At Inter, Simone Inzaghi also showed his clarity in playing style with a 3-man defense with rich technique, able to receive the ball under pressure and escape pressing. In that context, Onana's ability to pass long and choose a bold position became a harmful weapon.
However, things went wrong at Manchester United. Continuous injuries caused the defense to lose, the midfield lacked the ability to control the ball, and the trio's attack pressed unsynchronizedly.
From the very beginning, Onana's image at Man United was not perfect. In the friendly match against Lens, he was scored by a flat-footed opponent from 30 meters away. In his Premier League debut against Wolves, Onana escaped a penalty after a reckless collision in the penalty area. In the Champions League, today's simple shot of Leroy Sane ( Bayern Munich) turned into a silly goal.
The highlight was the match against Galatasaray in Türkiye. Incorrect passing, unsafe handling and 2 easy goals conceded turned the match into a "breakthrough" in Andre Onana's career at Old Trafford.
However, Onana did not give up. After the disastrous night of Istanbul, he played more stably, with an impressive series of matches in the first half of 2024, bringing hope that he had regained the form that Pep Guardiola called "special goalkeeper". However, by the end of the year, old errors appeared such as failed passing, uncertain handling and unreasonable entries and exits.
off the pitch, the pressure was also on Onana. The armed war with Nemanja Matic attracted public attention when the Serbian midfielder clandestined to protect De Gea. In the Europa League match against Lyon, Onana missed both goals, which turned out to be a trophy. The sympathy of Man United fans is running out.
At Man United, demanding a salary increase immediately after the club lost a Champions League spot further cost Onana points. Returning to the pre-season with injuries and lack of fitness, Onana disappointed Ruben Amorim.
The first goal conceded against Grimsby Town in the League Cup exposed Onana's technical weaknesses, a seemingly simple close-range shot through a narrow spot. That mistake could be overlooked, but in the context of Onana continuously making mistakes, it became a symbol of decline.
Andre Onana at Inter Milan showed confidence, solidity, and commanded the penalty area in the Champions League final against Man City. Onana at Man United is an uncertain image and often makes mistakes against weak opponents.
The Onana deal is not just a story of individual failures, it also reflects the chaos of Manchester United. They need to be solid, calm, and a checkpoint to bring stability regardless of the circumstances. However, Onana is an example that reflects everything.
With the arrival of Senne Lammens, the "Red Devils" hope to find something Andre Onana cannot bring. As for the Cameroonian goalkeeper, he left Old Trafford with the legacy of a gap between expectations and reality, a valuable lesson in system suitability, belief and timing.
