Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana has been selected as the new first-choice goalkeeper for Manchester United, replacing David De Gea. United boss Erik ten Hag, who previously worked with Onana at Ajax, has chosen him due to his ability to play out from the back and his comfort with the ball at his feet. Onana’s experience with Ten Hag’s approach and his calming influence on the backline make him an ideal fit for United’s system.
Two years ago, Onana was linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal among the reported suitors. However, at that time, he was serving a ban for violating UEFA’s doping rules. The ban, which initially lasted for one year, was reduced to nine months on appeal. Onana claimed that he had taken his wife’s medication, a diuretic drug called Furosemide, by mistake. After his ban ended, Onana featured for Ajax only six times before leaving for Inter when his contract expired.
On the international stage, Onana made his senior debut for Cameroon in September 2016, shortly after his Ajax debut. He went on to make 34 appearances for the national team. However, his international career has been marred by controversy. After being dropped by manager Rigobert Song following an alleged disagreement over tactics, Onana announced his retirement from international football and has not returned to the Cameroon set-up since.
With Ten Hag’s guidance, Onana is expected to bring confidence to the United squad, which struggled at times in the previous season. His experience and success at Ajax, including winning the Eredivisie three times and the KNVB Cup twice, as well as reaching the Europa League final in 2017, will be valuable additions to the team. Onana also won the 2023 Coppa Italia with Inter, although they were defeated by Manchester City in the final of a major European competition in June.
In conclusion, Andre Onana’s selection as Manchester United’s new first-choice goalkeeper is based on his ability to play out from the back and his familiarity with Ten Hag’s approach. Despite past controversies, Onana’s experience and success in domestic and European competitions make him a valuable addition to the team. United fans will be eager to see how he performs in the upcoming season.