Ruben Amorim has defended Andre Onana in public during a challenging season for the Manchester United goalkeeper.
Andre Onana joined Manchester United in the summer of 2023 as a replacement for the long-serving goalkeeper David de Gea.
The former Inter and Ajax shot-stopper had a difficult start to life at Old Trafford and was the victim of several high-profile errors in the Champions League, which saw United crash out in the group stages.
However, in the Premier League, Onana was much more consistent and arguably one of the club’s better performers across the 2023/24 campaign.
This season, it seems like the Cameroon international has taken backwards steps and that has led to speculation about his future under Ruben Amorim.
Amorim’s true stance on Onana at United
Sources have told UtdDistrict that Amorim is a big fan of Onana and really likes the goalkeeper despite his lack of consistency this season.
It is also understood that there is genuine interest in the 29-year-old from clubs in Saudi Arabia. Reports elsewhere have claimed that Neom have held talks with the goalkeeper’s representatives.
Onana has made headlines too often this season due to some high-profile errors, particularly against Lyon in the Europa League.
However, Amorim has kept trust in the shot-stopper and his view of Onana behind-the-scenes may suggest that he will remain at Old Trafford next term despite Saudi interest.
What Onana must do to win back United fans
When Manchester United signed Onana two years ago, the expectation was that he would enhance the team’s build-up play by offering a reliable passing option from the back.
However, too often it has felt like he hasn’t fully embraced that role, and it’s unclear whether that’s due to tactical instructions or his own hesitancy.
Before arriving at Old Trafford, Onana was also one of Europe’s most proactive sweeper-keepers—another facet of his game that now appears to have diminished.
While gaining the trust of Amorim is important for him, Onana will need to rediscover and consistently showcase those qualities next season if he is to win back the full support of the United fanbase.
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