Why Manchester United are spending €55m for Andre Onana?

The Red Devils are rooting for 27-year-old Cameroonian as club legend De Gea left the club on a free transfer

After 12 years as Manchester United’s first choice keeper, David De Gea parted ways with Old Trafford as it was announced that his contract would not be renewed.

David De Gea leaves as a Manchester United legend, he won the Premier League with the Red Devils. He’s been United’s player of the year 4 times, in 9 out of his 12 seasons at Old Trafford, he kept 11 or more clean sheets in a season. He had the most number of clean sheets in the league last season, keeping 18 clean sheets in 38 appearances, winning his second premier league golden glove. Clearly, he’s a quality goalkeeper.

So why did Manchester United get rid of David De Gea?

Well, for starters, he’s not the goalkeeper he once was. De Gea was once impenetrable, some of his saves and performances are now part of Manchester United’s folklore. However, lately, he started making a lot of mistakes, especially when the ball was at his feet. The quality of his passing, especially under pressure, took a massive hit, his clearances in the box and passing up the field no longer had the precision they used to have and his close range passing looked like it lacked vision. His mistakes came at times when United couldn’t afford them.

Over time it became clear to everyone, that De Gea can’t play with his feet anymore. Erik ten Hag decided to move on, and his eyes landed on Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Andre Onana had a decent Serie A campaign; he made 24 appearances in which he managed 62 saves and kept 8 clean sheets.

However, his performance in the Champions League was astonishing. He made 11 UCL appearances last season, in which he made 47 saves and kept 8 clean sheets.

But apart from his stats, Man United have very specific reasons for pursuing Andre Onana. He gives them what De Gea couldn’t.

Andre Onana'S good with the ball at his feet.

Andre Onana is not only good at goal stopping. Even when the ball is at his feet, Onana is quick to think and pass the ball where it is supposed to be passed. Onana has a brilliant first touch, meaning he can pass the ball either at close range or higher up the field without delaying the flow of the game. His passing range is maybe one of the best in the world, he is always in control of the ball and exudes confidence whenever the ball is at his feet. Onana is always in control of his box, whenever the ball landed in the goalkeeper’s box, he made an interception in the quickest time possible.

His skills were on full display during Inter Milan’s run-up to the Champions League final. Apart from making some world class stops, Onana’s passes were a crucial part of Inter Milan’s attack plan.

Yes, as weird as it may sound, Onana’s passes were an important of Inter Milan’s attack plans, even though he was a goalkeeper.

Andre Onana is not scared to leave his box

Andre Onana leaves his box more often than a lot of other goalkeepers. This gives a massive tactical advantage to the team he plays for.

Andre Onana comes down so far at times, that he often functions as a midfielder. This lets the other midfielders to go into more pressing positions, and since his long-range passing is on point, he often passes the ball into the attacking positions he sets up by coming up to the midfield.

As Onana is comfortable in leaving his box, even if the opposition manages to chip the ball over the midfield into his team’s half, Onana is quick to come down the line and intercept the ball before an opposing attacker is able to get possession.

Onana positions himself expertly, and his excellent ball distribution paired with quality midfielders and strikers for ex- the likes of Casemiro and Rashford at United, could create a style of play perfectly fitting Erik ten Hag’s vision.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, before the Champions League final between Inter Milan and Manchester City, when asked about Onana was quoted as saying:

“It’s difficult, when you have that keeper, to high press properly. For the way they (Inter Milan) play, Onana is an exceptional goalkeeper to take the position to build up. Really, really good”

Onana’s range of passing is one of his most desirable qualities. And it massively helps his team. Since he can pass both short and long ranges affectively, the opposition team are a bit skeptical to press and stay together as a unit. This is because if they press together and move up the pitch, and Onana manages a long pass to a winger, or even a left or right back who may pass it up the midfield, the opposition team will be rendered defenseless since all the players had pushed up.

In comparison, De Gea would often do a short pass even when there were considerable opposition players near the box, or else he would shoot the ball ahead with all his might and no vision, only to find it had come back.

If it were to be summarized, Andre Onana is a revamp in himself. He changes the way you defend, changes the way you build up, changes the way you attack. Changes Man United need to push for a tittle challenge.

 On top of that, he won’t be totally new to the way United are currently being operated.

He has played for Erik ten Hag before

Erik Ten hag is not an easy manager to play for. His no-nonsense style of decision making and firmness in his decision do not sit right with a lot of players. Ten hag famously drop Cristiano Ronaldo before facing archrivals Liverpool. To criticism and questioning by fans and supporters, he famously said “I slept well after dropping Ronaldo”.

However, Erik ten Hag managed Ajax to the 2018-19 Champions League semifinal, Onana was with Ajax, and he was his first choice keeper.

Onana and Erik ten Hag are well acquainted. Another huge factor in United’s pursuit of the Cameroonian goalkeeper.

After a decent Serie A and a head-turning champions league campaign for Onana, Ten hag was confident enough to make a case for his golden boy. And 60m pounds later, he has his wish fulfilled, standing in front of him, wearing gloves, making long passes.