André Onana is set to depart Manchester United on a season-long loan to Turkish side Trabzonspor in the coming days.
Manchester United’s goalkeeping problem in the last couple of years has been obvious and André Onana struggled to adapt after joining from Inter Milan in 2023.
Onana, 29, was considered one of the best ball-playing goalkeepers when he signed but has failed to showcase anywhere near his best level at Old Trafford.
After signing Senne Lammens on transfer deadline day, it was reported that Onana and Altay Bayındır would both remain at the club and fight for a spot in Ruben Amorim’s team.
But it has since been confirmed that Onana is now heading to Turkey to join Trabzonspor on a season-long loan, where he will also receive a pay rise.
What Amorim told United board about Onana before loan exit
It seemed strange when report suggested that United would not sell any of their goalkeepers, as no clubs usually have four first-team goalkeepers at the same time.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that this was actually a concern of Amorim and something he told the higher-ups at United before Onana’s loan was agreed.
The Portuguese boss believed that it would have been a problem having Onana sitting on the bench regularly, while Romano also added that the media attention surrounding that spot could also be an unneeded pressure for Lammens.
“From what I understand, Ruben Amorim told [United chiefs] internally that having four goalkeepers, and a goalkeeper like André Onana staying on the bench and making a case every single time on the bench, you can imagine for a manager it’s going to be a problem,” the Italian journalist explained on his YouTube channel.
“Every time it is Onana on the bench or Onana is not starting, maybe it could also be a sort of pressure for new goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
“Everybody at Manchester United agreed on selling André Onana on loan, giving him the chance to start on a regular basis to find his confidence and form again, and this decision was approved by Ruben Amorim.”
United are changing small things
Onana’s exit is another example of how United are changing small things behind the scenes. The club’s plans are no longer being broadcast every single day.
In recent years, it has felt like everyone has known everything United are planning. Whether that be finding out line-ups five hours before kick-off or knowing the exact signings and sales which are going to be made.
Barring one or two reporters, this summer window has felt like many have been in the dark with United’s plans. There was supposedly not going to be a goalkeeper signing, then Onana was not going to leave. Benjamin Šeško was essentially ruled out by some journalists just weeks before he arrived at Old Trafford.
These things aren’t majorly important but add to the culture that is being made at Carrington, and is it an interesting development after the club seemed so open before.
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