André Onana rajussa kritiikissä Manchester Unitedin epäonnistunut hankinta vai mahdollisuus uuteen alkuun Turkissa
It’s been a rocky stretch between the posts at Old Trafford, and this week, goalkeeper André Onana was once again at the center of the storm. On Monday, Goal published a blistering piece that didn’t just question his performances – it flat-out labeled the Cameroonian “Manchester United’s worst signing in the last two decades.”
Ouch.
This is the same Onana, 29, who arrived from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023 for around €55 million. He wasn’t just another signing; he was handpicked by manager Erik ten Hag, who had already worked with him at Ajax, to replace club legend David de Gea. The idea made sense at the time: a goalkeeper confident with his feet, capable of launching United into a new era of modern, attacking football. On paper it made perfect sense. In reality, the Premier League has been ruthless in exposing his flaws.
When Dreams Turn to Nightmares
Onana’s first season in England was, frankly, a nightmare reel of costly mistakes. Champions League nights against giants like Bayern Munich and Galatasaray turned him into a headline for all the wrong reasons. In the Premier League, the very things that were supposed to make him special — sharp reflexes, composure, confident distribution — looked shaky and unreliable.
United’s defense, already fragile, never felt safe with him behind them. And as the season crumbled, so did Onana’s reputation. Goal didn’t hold back, going as far as to say his supposed status as a “top keeper” is no longer believable.
A Keeper Caught Between Labels
Early on, Onana tried to keep his cool about the criticism. He pointed out — with a bit of defiance — that one of the world’s best goalkeepers doesn’t suddenly turn into one of the worst overnight.
But critics weren’t buying it. For Goal, his performances have gone beyond “rough transition” and squarely into “historic flop” territory. In their words, Onana has “done everything to earn the title of the worst goalkeeping signing in history.”
An Escape Route: Turkey
The story has now taken a new twist. Reports from transfer insider Fabrizio Romano suggest Onana is set to head out on loan to Turkish side Trabzonspor. The move should be confirmed soon, and it might be his last chance to resurrect his career at the top level.
United, meanwhile, isn’t waiting around. They’ve already snapped up Belgian youngster Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp. At just 22, he suddenly finds himself staring at the chance to become United’s new No. 1.
A Symbol of a Bigger Problem
Onana isn’t just one man under the microscope. He’s become a symbol. His chaotic first season sums up United’s wider troubles under Ten Hag — inconsistency, bad planning, and an inability to match the ruthless precision of rivals like Manchester City and Liverpool, where goalkeepers are pillars of success.
At United, the opposite has been true. Every fumble, every hesitant pass has seemed to drag down the entire team. For Onana, what should’ve been a dream debut season turned into a cautionary tale.
What’s Next?
For Manchester United, the question is whether Senne Lammens is the solution at last — a fresh start in goal, something stable after years of uncertainty. Or will they be forced into yet another expensive hunt in the summer market?
For Onana, the path is even steeper. Turkey offers him a chance at redemption, but it’s a long climb back toward football’s brightest stage.
The Takeaway
- Goal branded André Onana United’s worst buy in 20 years.
- His debut season was marred by high‑profile mistakes in both the Premier League and Champions League.
- He’s now headed for a loan to Trabzonspor, with his United future in serious doubt.
- Rising star Senne Lammens is stepping in as his possible replacement.
👉 So what do you think — is Onana really among United’s biggest transfer flops, or has the criticism been blown out of proportion?
