Manchester United shipped goalkeeper Andre Onana off to Trabzonspor on loan earlier this month after the Cameroonian failed to convince at Old Trafford.
The 29-year-old was brought in by Erik ten Hag to replace David de Gea, but since his move from Inter Milan in 2023 he rarely looked good or reliable enough to be United’s number 1.
No future at United
Onana has made a magnificent start to life in Turkey, where he has already picked up a man of the match award and an assist.
Fabrizio Romano reported yesterday that it is “very difficult” to see the goalkeeper playing for United again, despite the Trabzonspor move only being a loan.
The Red Devils signed promising Belgian keeper Senne Lammens on deadline day, but he is yet to make his debut with Altay Bayindir holding down the spot between the sticks at least for now.
Meanwhile, United are said to still be on the hunt for a top-class goalkeeper next summer and have recently been linked with AC Milan’s Mike Maignan.
Onana leaving was “the right decision”
Cameroon legend Geremi, who played for Chelsea, Newcastle United and Middlesbrough during an impressive career in England and won the Champions League with Real Madrid, feels that Onana was right to quit United.
As per Cameroonian outlet Le Bled Parle, Geremi said: “I think he made the right decision (to leave the club). It’s a good thing for him because he needed to go somewhere where he could play a lot, without too much pressure.
“He needs the confidence that comes from playing regularly, and at his age, he needs to play.”
Onana was never the problem
In fact, Geremi believes that Onana was never the problem for United, who he slammed as “still mediocre” despite the goalkeeper’s departure.
He said: “He was heavily criticized when Manchester United were struggling, but honestly, when you look at the team, he wasn’t the only player who wasn’t impressive.
“Even now, they are struggling this season without him. I saw them play against Manchester City, and they were still mediocre.”
It’s true that Bayindir also looks shaky in goal for the Red Devils but it speaks volumes that he is preferable to Onana, while fans eagerly wait for a glimpse of Lammens.
Featured image Clive Rose via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
