(Football news) David de Gea, who made his United announcement earlier this month that he would be leaving the team after 12 years, gets replaced by Andre Onana. Erik ten Hag and Andre Onana, with whom he won three Dutch crowns at Ajax, were reunited when Manchester United finalised the acquisition of the custodian from Inter Milan for 51 million euros ($57 million) on Thursday.
A five-year deal has been made with Onana. Depending on his performance at the club, there is also a possibility to extend the agreement for an additional 12 months for 4 million euros ($4.5 million) in add-on fees.
“To join Manchester United is an incredible honor and I have worked hard all my life to get to this moment, overcoming many obstacles along the way,” the Cameroon goalkeeper said.
Andre Onana will accompany his new colleagues on their American preseason trip. He takes over from David de Gea, who revealed earlier this month that he was leaving United after 12 years with the team.
Onana should enable Ten Hag to carry out his intentions to create play from defence, something he struggled to accomplish with De Gea last season because of his comfort with the ball in his hands.
Pep Guardiola frequently referred to Onana’s footwork as one of Inter’s primary qualities prior to last month’s Champions League final, which Manchester City won 1-0. Andre Onana, 27, demonstrated in that final his distribution skills and capacity to move outside of his area to receive the ball, justifying Guardiola’s praise.
United prioritised a top striker in the transfer market heading into this winter, but as questions about De Gea’s distribution rose towards the conclusion of the season, it became certain that a new custodian was required. For his part in Ilkay Gundogan’s game-winning goal in United’s FA Cup final defeat to City, the Spanish goalie received additional criticism.
Andre Onana will find it challenging to live up to him, though. He has the most clean sheets in the Premier League last season and was voted United’s player of the year four times. Additionally, he won four significant trophies while playing for the club and was a member of its most recent league champion squad.
In his lone season at Inter, Onana won both the Super Cup and the Italian Cup. He also assisted the team in advancing to the Champions League final.
After an argument with coach Rigobert Song, Andre Onana was kicked out of the World Cup last year Later, Andre Onana made the announcement that his time with the national team was his last.
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