Andre Onana reveals unusual nickname he's been given at Manchester United

Andre Onana has revealed the nickname his Manchester United teammates have given him since arriving at Old Trafford.

Onana joined the club from Inter Milan over the summer to replace David de Gea, but it's fair to say that the goalkeeper has had a mixed start to life in Erik ten Hag's team.

The 26-year-old has been inconsistent this term, with impressive performances often followed by high profile errors. Two mistakes against Galatasaray last week left United's hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages hanging by a thread.

However, Onana has showed his leadership qualities, arguably one of the reasons why he has not lost his place in Ten Hag's starting XI.

The Cameroonian shot-stopper believes that side of his personality stems from the fact that if he wasn't a footballer, he would like to be a police officer.

"I think I'd be a police officer, as I love to take responsibility," Onana told the Premier League's official YouTube channel.

"That's why even my teammates call me 'the boss'. I love politics too, I'm always keen to learn about it. It helps me understand how the world works.

"For me, working as a police officer is assuming one of the most honourable jobs in the world."

Say what you like about Onana's performances so far this season, but there is no denying his ability as a leader on the pitch.

His eagerness to take responsibility and lead the team became clear in pre-season, when he gave Harry Maguire an on-field dressing down during a 3-2 friendly defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

Andre Onana has struggled at Manchester United (Image: Getty)

It's highly likely that Ten Hag requested the signing of Onana as much for the leadership qualities he showed at Inter - who he helped reach the Champions League final last season - as his goalkeeper abilities.

The nickname his United teammates have affectionately given him show the respect he has already earned in the Old Trafford dressing room, but it's clear he needs to up his performances if he is to repay his manager's faith and prove a worthy successor to club legend De Gea.

Topics: Andre Onana, Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United, Premier League, Football

Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton is a Sports Trends Writer at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He enjoys running, cooking and watching non-league football.

@alex_brotherton