Andre Onana is determined to fight for his place at Manchester United despite a difficult season marked by costly errors and persistent transfer speculation. The Cameroonian goalkeeper, who joined the Red Devils from Inter Milan in 2023 for a fee of £43.8 million, has made nine mistakes leading to goals in all competitions this term, a statistic that has not gone unnoticed by critics and the club’s hierarchy.
Ruben Amorim dropped Onana for last month’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United following two high-profile blunders against Lyon. Despite the setback, Onana has since regained his place between the posts and is adamant about proving his worth at Old Trafford.
According to The Sun, Onana has no intention of leaving this summer and is fully committed to being part of Amorim’s project to rebuild Manchester United.
Onana’s current contract runs until 2028, and he remains focused on silencing his critics by delivering consistent performances. Amorim has publicly backed the 29-year-old, admitting that he has made more mistakes this season than his players and expressing confidence that Onana will bounce back.
However, Onana’s position at the club has not been without controversy. Ahead of the Europa League quarter-final against Lyon, the goalkeeper stirred tensions by taunting the French side, claiming that United were “way better” than their opponents. The comments provoked a strong response from Nemanja Matic, the former United midfielder now at Lyon, who labelled Onana “one of the worst keepers in United’s history.”
Onana fired back, pointing to Matic’s trophyless five-year spell at Old Trafford, further escalating the war of words. Such incidents have not helped Onana’s standing in the dressing room, where his brash confidence has been perceived as arrogance by some teammates.
Despite the friction, Onana is determined to restore his reputation and help United secure a crucial victory in the upcoming Europa League final against Tottenham on May 21, which could clinch a place in the Champions League next season.
While Onana is focused on re-establishing himself as United’s No. 1, they are not ruling out the possibility of bringing in another goalkeeper this summer. Reports have linked Manchester United with Torino’s Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, a 28-year-old Serbian international who was once on United’s books as a teenager but left due to work-permit issues.
Milinkovic-Savic has been one of the standout keepers in Serie A this season, registering ten clean sheets in a Torino side that has often been under pressure defensively. United are interested in the 6’8′ stopper, whose commanding presence and aerial dominance have earned him plaudits in Italy.
Milinkovic-Savic is seen as a potential challenger to Onana, with Amorim keen to add more competition in goal following a season where Manchester United have conceded too many preventable goals. Meanwhile, Altay Bayindir, who has served as United’s second-choice keeper, is also in the mix but has yet to fully convince Amorim that he can step up as a reliable No. 1.
Andre Onana’s resolve to stay at Manchester United is commendable, but he must back it up with consistent performances to convince Amorim and the club’s fans that he is the right man for the job. Onana’s habit of making critical errors at key moments has cast a shadow over his otherwise impressive shot-stopping ability and distribution skills.
However, the potential arrival of Vanja Milinkovic-Savic could significantly complicate Onana’s situation. Milinkovic-Savic is a commanding presence in goal and could provide the stability United desperately need, particularly in high-pressure matches. If Amorim decides to bring in the Serbian keeper, it would send a strong message that no player’s position is safe — not even one as expensive and high-profile as Onana.
In the end, Onana’s fate at Old Trafford may well hinge on his performances in the Europa League final. A standout showing against Tottenham could not only secure Champions League football for Manchester United but also reaffirm Onana’s status as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper heading into the next campaign.
