“Outstanding, flawless” – Should Man Utd give ‘phenomenal’ loanee another chance?

A Turkish journalist ran out of superlatives while trying to explain just how good Andre Onana has been since leaving Manchester United.The Premier League giants signed the Cameroonian in the summer of 2023, believing him to be the ideal heir for David De Gea’s throne. The 29-year-old cost the club’s coffers £47.5 million at the time.However, Onana’s knack for committing blunders earned him the undesired moniker of ‘one of the worst goalkeepers’ in Man Utd history.After two chaotic years at Carrington, INEOS had seen enough of the former Ajax star, so they decided to send him out on loan in September, having already brought in a younger replacement in Senne Lammens.Nevertheless, Onana has apparently found his right gloves once more, as he’s been delivering solid displays between the sticks in Turkiye.In his interview with the Manchester Evening News, Turkish sports reporter Hasan Tuncel heaped praise on the seemingly revitalised goalkeeper.“In one word: outstanding,” raved the journalist. “His performance against Kayserispor was phenomenal – he practically saved every shot on target.“In the match against Eyupspor, his two crucial saves were instrumental in keeping Trabzonspor’s title hopes alive.”The League Cup clash at Blundell Park marked Onana’s final United appearance before moving to Trabzonspor (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Andre Onana found his form again at TrabzonsporMoreover, Tuncel highlights how Onana has also cemented himself as a leader and mentor for his fellow custodians at the club.“During the chaos against Fenerbahce, Onana’s leadership stood out – he calmed his teammates, used his experience, and pulled off some remarkable saves.“From that moment on, not just the fans in Turkey but everyone watching internationally saw that he is still a top-level goalkeeper. He has maintained the same standard in the following matches.“So far, he’s been flawless. Beyond his goalkeeping, he’s become a leader in the dressing room. He personally mentors three young goalkeepers.” Onana’s stats by club Appearances Goals Conceded Clean Sheets Ajax 214 192 85 Inter Milan 41 36 19 Man Utd 102 150 24 Trabzonspor 6 6 2 Regarding the future, Tuncel noted that Trabzonspor are merely enjoying Onana’s presence while they can, hoping that his guidance elevates the level of their other goalkeepers. Nevertheless, believes a permanent transfer could be possible if Man Utd agree to lower their asking price.But should the Red Devils consider reintegrating him into the squad now that he has found his form again?Why bringing Onana could be ill-advised for Man UtdIt should be said that Onana constantly failed to deliver under pressure, and he had already accumulated too many toxic memories at Old Trafford to be simply dispelled by going away for one year.If he’s willing to accept playing second fiddle to Lammens, perhaps he could be an upgrade on Altay Bayindir. However, Man Utd wouldn’t want to disrupt the current dynamics, which have been working favourably for the Belgian, and risk creating an awkward situation.Moreover, Onana’s wages (£120,000 per week) are too high for a mere backup, so the best solution would be to capitalise on his current form to attract suitable offers and finally cut their losses on this ill-fated investment.