Andre Onana’s struggles since joining Premier League giants Manchester United are not going unnoticed in Italy with one former Serie A goalkeeper claiming the ex-Inter Milan ace has ‘regressed’ at Old Trafford.
You’ve probably heard the statistic by now. In fact, we’re almost certain you have, presuming you’ve dared to switch on talkSPORT or Sky Sports for more than a split second over the course of the last 72 hours.
Of the 13 shots on target Andre Onana has faced in the Manchester United net, ten have crossed the goalline. Including, of course, that Leroy Sane daisycutter at the Allianz Arena in midweek; Onana carrying the blame on his own broad shoulders after United’s bright start away at Bayern Munich was brought to a juddering, shuddering halt.
While the £43 million summer signing has – as expected – added a different dimension to United’s build up play, concerns over his shot-stopping ability are growing game on game.
Andre Onana yet to convince at Manchester United
“I had the chance to talk to Onana’s coaches last year and I didn’t expect it to perform so well (in Italy),” Turci, now a member of AC Milan’s coaching staff, tells Piazza Affari.
“Now, in Manchester, he is not repeating the same performances and has regressed from a technical point of view. I presume that Inter have made a (good) deal.”
All those pining for a certain free-agent Spaniard, however, would do worse than to remember that David de Gea made his fair share of similar blunders last season. West Ham, Brentford and the FA Cup final, anyone?
And Onana, in his defence, does already have quite the collection of eye-catching stops under his belt at United, denying Bukayo Saka from point-blank range versus Arsenal and saving two points at home to Nottingham Forest.
But, from an Inter perspective, the £5 million signing of Yann Sommer as Onana’s replacement is starting to look like an inspired piece of business.
Yann Sommer shines in Onana’s absence
“Inter’s defence has conceded very few goals but, yesterday, he was needed. And he responded,” ex-Nerrazzuri midfielder Fausto Pizzi tells Tuttomercatoweb, Sommer keeping Inter in the game away at Real Sociedad before Lautaro Martinez snatched the most undeserved of points late on.
“He never gave the feeling of being unfocused. If an answer was needed (about Sommer’s quality), I’d say it arrived yesterday.
“Onana, on the other hand, has already made some serious mistakes. Not like him.”
Onana will have the chance to bounce back as United travel to Burnley on Saturday.
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