United set to lose experienced goalkeeper
Andre Onana is close to finalising a loan switch to Turkish side Trabzonspor, but BBC Radio Manchester’s The Devils’ Advocate podcast host Gaz Drinkwater has warned that Manchester United could miss his presence in the dressing room.
Despite describing the 29-year-old as “one of Manchester United’s worst ever number one goalkeepers”, Drinkwater stressed that Onana’s self-belief and personality will be difficult to replace.
Pundit critical of Onana’s performances
“Andre Onana talks really well, particularly after games when he’s made a mistake,” said Drinkwater. “He has the sense of self-belief where I don’t think he’s ever going to doubt himself, which probably explains why he turned up to Carrington demanding a new contract and a pay rise after United’s worst ever season.
“The dressing room will miss that slightly, as well as having an experienced man in the Premier League between the sticks.”
Mistakes overshadowed Onana’s spell at Old Trafford
Signed from Inter Milan in 2023 for £51m, Onana’s United career has been plagued by high-profile errors. Drinkwater pointed to his costly mistakes in the Champions League and Premier League as decisive in the club’s struggles:
“The amount of mistakes he made basically got us knocked out of the Champions League a couple of seasons ago, while last season he was throwing them in his own net at times. He was brought in for his distribution, which I never saw from him.”
United moving in a new direction
With Senne Lammens signed from Antwerp and Altay Bayindir stepping up, United have decided to move in a new direction.
While many fans will not lament Onana’s departure, Drinkwater concluded that the gamble could still backfire:
“I understand why Manchester United have gone in a different direction. But it’s a big risk.”
