United legend explains why INEOS will make a big mistake if they let go of “tremendous” star

Edwin van der Sar has given Manchester United a clear message about their security between the sticks. According to Metro, the former United goalkeeper suggests that the bigger issue is the environment around Andre Onana, with the English club planning to sell the ex-Ajax ace in the summer. The 55-year-old brought his mind back to when the Cameroon international first arrived in Amsterdam. Difference maker “I worked with Andre Onana for three or four years at Ajax,” van der Sar explained. He added: “He came in as a third-choice goalkeeper and was very eager to step up and become the first choice.” The former Dutch international insisted that he still rates the ability of the player currently on loan at Trabzonspor. “I thought, and I still think, that he has tremendous qualities […] reflexes and his feet,” he continued. The football executive also argued that the problem is the mistakes. “But somehow, he has the odd mistake in him that makes you think ‘That’s crazy, how can he do that,’” van der Sar remarked. Such moments become a big story at Old Trafford, and can change how people see you. After all, few clubs come with more pressure than United. The legendary shot-stopper stressed, however, that a team needs trust in its goalkeeper. In addition, he noted that the defence needs to know what is coming. “A team wants stability, to know what your goalkeeper is doing so the back four can relate,” he pointed out. He illustrated: “I think that’s what happened [the issue] with Andre.” No safety Furthermore, van der Sar talked about the wider picture at M16. He maintained that the club has lacked structure for years. “Manchester United haven’t had stability for the last six or seven years,” he observed. Moreover, he highlighted changes in the back four, midfield, and coaches. The former Fulham man emphasised that this makes it harder for new purchases to settle in. Additionally, he warned that the expectations are high for everyone. “It’s difficult for new players to come into an environment where the expectations are high,” he stated. He also claimed that many past acquisitions have not reached the level people expected. In the final analysis, van der Sar admitted he thought the move would work at first. “I absolutely thought that he would succeed when he first came here to United,” he recalled, The Barcelona academy graduate’s past form at Ajax and Inter Milan were referenced as well as his performance in the Champions League final against Manchester City. Ahead of the summer transfer window, the Red Devils will now lament that Onana failed to hit similar heights at Old Trafford. Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Okari Wambunya Okari Wambunya is a football writer at The Peoples Person, covering Manchester United with fast, accurate, and source-led news, analysis, opinions, team developments, injuries, press conferences, and matchday reactions. A former secondary school teacher, he now coaches college football (not soccer) and continues to support young people through academic mentoring and youth work. He holds a BA (Hons) in English from Brunel University London and an MA in Education from King’s College London, with experience across digital journalism and broadcast sports media. Okari first praised Michael Carrick in a blog post he wrote at 16-years-old in 2014; over a decade later, United appointing Carrick as interim head coach feels like a full-circle moment.