Manchester United’s decision to replace David de Gea with Andre Onana at Old Trafford is still one that leaves huge question marks 18 months after the Cameroon international signed for the club.
In the summer of 2023, United decided against renewing the contract of their long standing goalkeeper after a downturn in form left De Gea on the chopping block and Erik ten Hag in no doubt that a change between the sticks was required.
Onana was promptly signed as the man tasked with taking United into the modern era of goalkeeping with his ability to play with the ball at his feet aligning with Ten Hag’s methods.
However, things have dramatically changed at Old Trafford since then, with Ten Hag out of a job and Onana struggling to convince he is up to the task of replacing the Spaniard.
Speaking exclusively to The Peoples Person courtesy of Instant Casino, former United defender Paul Parker believes Onana’s abilities as a ‘keeper do not match the standards of De Gea and feels the 28-year-old is a major problem for Ruben Amorim.
When asked on where Amorim needs to improve his squad, Parker was in no doubt the new head coach should look at replacing the “big issue” that Onana has become.
“It’s like a fashion trend. Everyone was talking about a goalkeeper with good feet,” the former full-back said.
“I prefer a goalkeeper who I can believe can make saves and and when he makes saves he doesn’t give the ball back to the opposition to have a second shot.”
Parker continued that he sees Onana play with his “heart over his head” and questioned his comments at the start of the campaign that promised an upturn in form from his first season at Old Trafford.
“He told everyone how he was going to play his game this season, which is a bit strange really being a goalkeeper rather than an outfield player, talking about [how] his margins are going to get smaller on his delivery and stuff like that,” he said.
The former England international concluded that letting De Gea leave was a grave error and Onana certainly wasn’t the right choice to step into his gloves.
“It was a poor poor mistake to let De Gea go before bringing anyone in to replace him – someone who, in my opinion, is actually a goalkeeper,” he said.
Parker’s damning comments come after a handful of individual errors from Onana followed a decent run of form that appeared to signal a change in fortunes for the ‘keeper.
However, with Amorim desperately in need of stability and quality in his ranks, Onana’s erratic nature may lead to him heading for the exit door should he not improve his performance levels in the coming months.
Featured image by Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Conner Botterill
Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
