Manchester United's (Man United) 'legend' Edwin van der Sar (56) expressed deep regret over goalkeeper André Onana (30, Trabzonspor).
Van der Sar said on the 23rd (Korean time) to Britain's 'Sky Bet' about Onana, whom he had watched since the Ajax days, "I worked with Onana for 3–4 years," adding, "He is a player with incredible reflexes and feet skills. I was convinced that Man United and Onana would be a perfect match."
Onana joined Man United from Inter Milan in 2023 for a transfer fee of £47 million (about 91.6 billion won). But under Erik ten Hag and head coach Rúben Amorim, Onana made repeated mistakes and lost trust.
In the end, Onana went on loan to Trabzonspor ahead of this season. Although it is a loan, it includes an option to buy outright, so it is reported that his Man United career is effectively over.
Van der Sar said, "Man United has lacked stability for the past six to seven years. The defensive line, midfielders and coaching staff have constantly changed," and he criticized, "In such an environment, it is difficult for any new player, not just goalkeepers but wingers or midfielders, to meet expectations."
Van der Sar diagnosed that Onana's poor form stemmed more from the clubwide chaos at Man United than from a lack of individual ability. He emphasized the importance of team atmosphere.
On the other hand, van der Sar evaluated Onana's successor Senne Lammens (24), saying, "He seems to have adapted well to the Premier League's physicality. He handles the ball confidently and makes saves at crucial moments," and added, "He has a good package to play for Man United for a long time."
Belgium-born Lammens was hurriedly signed to fill Onana's vacancy. He joined Man United from Royal Antwerp (Belgium) for a modest transfer fee of £18 million (about 35.1 billion won) and has exceeded expectations. He has started all 21 matches since the transfer and secured the starting spot.
Man United currently sit sixth in the league (42 points) and are eyeing a UEFA Champions League spot. It is ironic that Onana, once recognized for his talent, failed at Man United while the unexpected Lammens may provide the stability to end Man United's dark period.
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