Man Utd must go all out to sign Andre Onana! Inter star is Erik ten Hag’s ideal goalkeeper and the key to unlocking the team’s true potential | Goal.com UK
The Cameroon international played a big role in the success of Ten Hag’s Ajax, and his dribbling and passing ability could transform the Red Devils
David de Gea is a loyal Manchester United servant and one of the club’s greatest-ever goalkeepers, but after an error-strewn season, his time at Old Trafford is drawing to a close. The Spaniard has served the club well and in their darkest moments he was so often their hero, a goal-saving machine who prevented the team from falling deeper into the abyss.
But as United looked to the future last season under the forward-thinking Erik ten Hag, it became increasingly clear that De Gea’s skillset was rooted in the past and holding the club back. While the goalkeeper’s shot-stopping ability came under increased scrutiny after conceding a number of soft goals, the biggest concern was his inability to play out from the back and help United maintain possession.
The Spaniard became an easy target, with the likes of Brentford, Newcastle, Sevilla and Manchester City pressing him high and either forcing him into errors or provoking him to launch the ball long, either into the stands or the to the feet of opponents.
But just a week after De Gea routinely gave away possession to City in the FA Cup final defeat – as well as being too slow to save Ilkay Gundogan’s winning goal – United saw the future right in front of them.
In the Champions League final against City, Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana gave a masterclass in controlling and distributing the ball while under pressure. And if United want to build on all the progress they have made under Ten Hag, then they need to go all out and sign the Cameroon No.1.