A former Manchester United goalkeeper has claimed Andre Onana should “move on” from the club if “things don’t change” by the end of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Onana, 28, joined United from Inter Milan back in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £47.2m, according to BBC Sport.
Since becoming the club’s number one during Erik ten Hag’s tenure, he has shown glimpses of brilliance but has come under fire for several mistakes – including conceding directly from Matheus Cunha’s corner in the 2-0 defeat away against Wolves on Thursday.
In his 18 Premier League appearances this term, he has conceded 24 goals, but at times, his case has not been helped by some sub-par defensive showings from his teammates.
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However, a former United player has claimed he may be a “better fit” in another European league.
Massimo Taibi, 54, played for the Red Devils between 1999 and 2000. But his time at United did not go as planned, when he made an error against Liverpool on his debut before another dropping another clanger against Southampton in September 1999.
He left for Italian outfit Reggina in 2000 and went on to play for Atalanta, Torino and Ascoli before retiring in 2009.
Now, he has given his thoughts on the current situation Onana finds himself in.
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"I’d be straight to the point and tell him, ‘Andre, you are one of the best keepers in Europe, but in the Premier League, you are under-performing,” he told The Sun.
“Block out criticism, do some soul-searching, press the reset and go again. And if things don’t change by June, move on.
“I think subconsciously the United environment isn’t ideal for him and when a marriage is showing cracks, it’s pointless to continue.
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“Sometimes things don’t work out at a team, and it’s best to go separate ways, which would not be a failure.
"For me, he’s a strong goalkeeper who finds himself in a situation where he can’t show his skills because he is not cut out for the English game.”
He went on to explain how the Cameroonian’s “ball-playing ability” would allow him to “excel in Italy or France”.
Of course, it is unclear if Onana would be willing to leave the club after just one and a half seasons at Old Trafford. The ‘keeper’s current United contract is set to end in June 2028.
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However, the Daily Star reports that the “search for a top keeper is already underway”.
The outlet claims that Brighton's Bart Verbruggen, 22, is the club’s “favourite” and given that his contract is set to run for a further three years, could cost around the £30m mark.
But any potential transfer is unlikely to be completed in the January window, meaning Ruben Amorim will have to persist with Onana for now.
Topics: Manchester United, Andre Onana, Erik Ten Hag, Premier League
Luke Davies