An aborted mixed zone stunt from Andre Onana rather typified his final months at Man United, who have given up on him in favour of more frugal ‘keepers.
Whilst strolling through the quaint streets of Lyon hours before Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final, a WhatsApp voice note arrived from a contact. It contained an instruction.
In the event that United won, this correspondent was advised to get Andre Onana’s attention in the mixed zone by addressing him with a specific phrase in Italian. Onana would then stop to chat and do something “funny” to defuse the fallout from his pre-match comments that United were “way better” than Lyon. Onana’s own brand of comedy was reserved for his performance that evening.
There were two more errors, the second an added-time fumble that invited Rayan Cherki to equalise. Before kick-off at the Groupama Stadium, Onana, iPhone headphones on, casually strolled over to one of the goal frames to check that they were stable. They were. He wasn’t.
Officials at United were unhappy about the “way better” quip that Onana uttered to four of us in the makeshift mixed zone at Old Trafford, the only memorable event from a dour derby. Onana’s delivery was not disparaging yet it elicited a withering response from Nemanja Matic at the pre-match press conference.
“If you are one of the worst ‘keepers in Manchester United history, you need to take care,” Matic warned. “If David de Gea, Peter Schmeichel or Edwin van der Sar said that, I would question myself.
“But if, statistically, you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s modern history, he needs to show that before he says.”
Onana never truly recovered from that week. The public ridicule preceded his withdrawal from the weekend shellacking by Newcastle United. Ruben Amorim took him out of the firing line and has now effectively fired him. His exit route to Turkey signals career decline at 29, a premature age for a goalkeeper.
A montage of Onana’s ‘mistakes’ has gained 2.2 million views online. Some additions are unfair and some glaring errors are also conspicuous by their absence. In 102 appearances, Onana comfortably conceded at least two dozen saveable or avoidable goals, depending on the slack you cut a ‘keeper.
A quirk of his second sorry season is that it was going well until Amorim arrived. No memorable cock-ups, important saves in key games at Southampton and Porto and a save of the season contender at Crystal Palace. The regression was instigated by Arsenal and their set pieces three days before Morgan Gibbs-White’s pot-shot unfathomably flummoxed Onana.
Senior figures at United were downplaying a goalkeeping addition in the final weeks of last season. The priority was the attack and people at the club liked Onana’s character. Us journalists can attest to this.
On a chilly evening at the City Ground, Onana was warm company as he admitted how trying his first six months in Manchester had been off the pitch. He is a bullish and candid conversationalist befitting a United goalie. He could talk the talk but not walk the walk.
Onana was under the impression he was safe on account of his warm rapport with Amorim. Perhaps Amorim lulled him into a false sense of security. Onana had a tight bond with Erik ten Hag and was never going to be as close with Amorim, who has leant heavily on fellow Portuguese speakers Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Casemiro and now Matheus Cunha. Ultimately, their working relationship was moot as Onana continued to err.
Historically, United have had to bide their time when it comes to replacing an incumbent number one. De Gea was released after weeks of indecision. Tim Howard, Fabien Barthez and Mark Bosnich had ceased to be the first choice by the time they were jettisoned. Alex Stepney had a second lease of life after Wilf McGuinness was sacked with the reappointment of Sir Matt Busby. Onana is not halfway through a five-year contract and his escape routes were reduced to Turkey or Saudi Arabia.
He has not even moved to one of Turkey’s eminent clubs. Jose Mourinho, an admirer of Onana’s, had no intention of moving for Onana before he was dismissed by Fenerbahce, who opted for the other phased-out goalie from Manchester in Ederson. Galatasaray were also keen on the Brazilian.
Not for the first time, United have botched a succession plan in goal. Onana represented a more modern goalie than De Gea yet his once-famed distribution deserted him last season.
United have settled for, or rather saddled with, Altay Bayindir. The consensus at United is the club is “too demanding” for a goalie who warmed the bench for Turkey during their World Cup qualifiers this month.
Come Onana’s last final appearance at Blundell Park, he was booed. United matchgoers became regularly irked by his delayed restarts at goal kicks last season, their mood not helped by Onana occasionally urging them to relax.
This jarred with his pre-season promise: “I will take a lot of risks. I can tell you in advance already!” he chuckled to a few of us pitchside at UCLA. “Be prepared because it’s gonna be this season, trust me! I will enjoy it even more when this season starts.”
A few weeks after the aborted ‘funny’ in Lyon, United were revelling in one of their most accomplished European away victories of the last decade in Bilbao. Onana strolled past me in the San Mames mixed zone and offered a knowing wink.
He sometimes kept goal as if one eye was permanently closed.
2025-09-12 09:08:07
