The Cameroon international was at his peak when he joined Old Trafford in the summer of 2023. He had just led Inter to the Champions League final and was regarded as one of the most well-rounded goalkeepers in the world, excelling both with his feet and his hands.
However, Onana faced a challenging start in English football, making several errors that raised doubts about his £48 million ($61m) transfer fee and long-term prospects. Silencing critics has been tough, but he has regained his form and is determined to reach the pinnacle of the sport once more.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Onana discussed his journey to prove he belongs among the global elite: “I arrived as the best goalkeeper in the world and ‘boom’ it went down. It was like ‘what happened?’ But that is how difficult football is sometimes. It depends if you want to stay down there or stand up and fight. I know what I did to arrive here. I know who I am. I decided to stand up and fight.”
United are keeping Onana busy, with a stretch of games between March and April seeing him face at least 20 shots per game from Premier League rivals. Commenting on this workload, he said: “I don’t mind facing 20 or 30 shots. I’m very happy with what my teammates are doing because many of them make sacrifices for the team. It would be great to have everyone back, but what can we do? Hide? We’re a big club. We have to be proactive and handle difficulties. I’m optimistic. I know things will improve. If not today, then tomorrow.”
The Red Devils have a chance to conclude a disappointing 2023-24 season on a high note as they prepare for another FA Cup final. With Erik ten Hag’s future under scrutiny, he is preparing for a crucial showdown against Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.
André Onana
André Onana
CameroonThis season he played in total 38 times for 3420 minutes for Premier League.
He made 146 saves and conceded 56 goals. He received 5 yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 8th in Premier League. In the last match Manchester United won 2-0 against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Manchester United performance and stats
Manchester United
Manchester United is currently 8th in the Premier League with 54 points.
In the last 38 games, it has won 18 times, drawn 6 times, and lost 14 times. In its last match, Manchester United won 0-2 against Brighton & Hove Albion.
It has a negative goal difference after scoring 52 goals and conceding 56.
