Manchester United has changed fundamentally since Ruben Amorim arrived at the club in November 2024 and this Andre Onana saga personifies it
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana(Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
At the beginning of the summer, Andre Onana met with the Manchester United hierarchy to discuss his future at the club.
Unsurprisingly, it seemed the Cameroonian shot-stopper was nervous about his position at Old Trafford after yet another underwhelming season. Before the Europa League quarter-final against Lyon, Onana unwisely commented that United were better than them – he then proceeded to make two mistakes and was dropped for the Premier League clash against Newcastle the following Sunday.
Despite this and fan sentiment appearing to turn on the former Champions League final goalkeeper, Onana was informed by United that his place was safe. Fast forward to June and July; the 29-year-old was doubling up as an agent as he helped persuade international colleague Bryan Mbeumo to join the Reds.
After he signed, Onana was pictured with Mbeumo on the flight out to the US for the pre-season tour. Sadly for him, the trip to the United States was in a watching capacity as he recovered from a hamstring injury.
Something clearly happened in those final weeks before the season started, as when the Premier League and Onana returned, his position was no longer as stable as first promised. Altay Bayindir has started all of the opening league fixtures, with Onana starting the infamous Carabao Cup fixture against Grimsby Town.
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Two mistakes in Lincolnshire followed by an underwhelming performance in the penalty shootout now appears to have put the writing on the wall for Onana. On deadline day, Senne Lammens joined the squad from Royal Antwerp, and by the following Saturday, reports have surfaced claiming that Onana is seriously considering a loan spell at Turkish club Trabzonspor.
The speed and nature of United’s U-turn in confidence towards Onana is stark. In just a few months, Ruben Amorim’s club has turned its back on their former first choice and now looks ready to take their chances with an unproven entity no matter which way you look at it.
Even if they stick with Bayindir for the time being, he is still enjoying his best-ever run of matches in goal for United. Amorim’s decisive decision-making is yet another strong signal to the remainder of this Reds squad.
Players simply cannot afford to rest on their laurels with him in charge and this is the clearest sign yet that if you are not performing to the required standard, your place in the starting XI – or at the club – is not safe.
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