Man Utd target Andre Onana's career once nearly destroyed by failed drugs test

Manchester United are reportedly preparing an opening bid for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana as they look to find a long-term replacement for David de Gea.

Onana, 27, has emerged as a key target for United this summer after helping Inter reach the final of the Champions League, where they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City.

United boss Erik ten Hag is keen to sign a new goalkeeper with the future of De Gea in doubt.

The Spaniard is out of contract at the end of the month and is yet to reach an agreement with the club over a new deal on reduced terms – leading to speculation he could leave on a free transfer.

According to The Athletic, United have made contact with Onana's representatives over a potential move to Old Trafford.

Meannwhile, Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia) claim United are preparing an opening bid of around £35m for the Cameroon international.

It is claimed that Inter will seek a fee closer to £45m.

Onana's failed drugs test

Should Onana get a big-money move to United, it would cap a remarkable turnaround in his career – which was put in jeopardy after a failed drugs test in 2020.

In October of that year, Onana's world was turned upside down when he was informed that he had tested positive for a banned substance while playing for Dutch side Ajax.

It later became clear that Onana had accidentally taken banned substance Lasimac, a Furosemide-based diuretic prescribed to his wife after childbirth, instead of common cold treatment medicine Litacold.

In an interview with The Guardian, Ajax's then chief executive Edwin van der Sar said he visited Onana's house after the failed drugs test and noticed the striking similarities between the packaging for the two substances and the pills themselves.

"It's incredible: 40mg can destroy a career," said Van der Sar.

UEFA accepted Onana's explanation and concluded there had been no attempt to cheat but still handed him a 12-month ban in February 2021, which was later reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"I'm just a number," Onana told The Guardian.

"They can't deal case by case. I think they should but there are rules and the rules are the rules. The doctors said [Furosemide] is for water-retention and doesn't benefit you.

"They recognised it was a genuine mistake but you're responsible for everything in your body. If I buy a bottle of water that turns out to be contaminated, it's my responsibility."

After returning from serving his ban, Onana struggled for minutes at Ajax and was linked with Inter in January 2022 before joining the Italian club on a free transfer that summer.

He has since gone on to make 41 appearances for the club, keeping 19 clean sheets – form which has attracted the attention of his former Ajax boss Ten Hag and United.