Andre Onana has finally dismissed one Manchester United legend’s bold claim about playing for the Red Devils after completing his first season at Old Trafford.
The 28-year-old Cameroonian arrived at Old Trafford last summer after Manchester United signed him from Inter Milan in a deal worth £47.2m.
Andre Onana succeeded David de Gea between the sticks at Old Trafford after the United legend made his exit from the club in 2023.
The United No 1 was reunited with manager Erik ten Hag at the Red Devils, having previously worked under the Dutchman at Ajax.
Onana endured an up-and-down debut season at Old Trafford, with the United star coming under fierce criticism for his performances at times.
The United star was at fault for howlers in the Champions League against Galatasaray and Bayern Munich in 2023, with the Red Devils crashing out of the competition.
But Onana saw a turnaround in form as the season progressed and the former Ajax star impressed with his performances in the Premier League.
The Cameroon international managed to keep nine clean sheets in the league last season, which was the same as Aston Villa shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez.
Onana makes feelings clear at Man Utd
Erik ten Hag kept faith with Andre Onana in the 2023-24 campaign and previously backed the Manchester United star to turn things around at Old Trafford.
Onana played in every Premier League match for United last season and the former Ajax and Inter Milan star conceded a whopping 58 times in the league.
Speaking to The Times, Onana was asked if he felt that the United No 1 role was the most scrutinised and toughest in the whole of football.
However, he showed his elite mentality and made his feelings clear, with Onana suggesting that the move to a new country and league was more “strange.”
“I don’t think so. I don’t feel it,” Onana said.
“Maybe in the beginning, it was a bit strange for me because I wasn’t used to the country and the set-up but I feel good.
“It’s a nice place to be and my teammates, the staff and the fans make it really easy for me, so I’m happy to be here.”
Gary Neville’s Man Utd claim
Onana’s stance on being the United No 1 was the complete opposite of club legend Gary Neville, who called it the “hardest position in English football.”
Gary Neville had played under Sir Alex Ferguson his entire career and saw the difficulty that different ‘keepers faced between the sticks at United.
Neville has repeatedly remained firm on his “hardest position” claim, including reiterating it after United’s defeat to Manchester City in the 2023 FA Cup final.
“There was a period for four or five years where he [David de Gea] was very good,” he said on The Overlap in 2023.
“He was their best player when they were a poor team, but he still performed at a high level.
“But you simply cannot let that goal in [in the FA Cup final vs Manchester City]. Being Man United goalkeeper is the hardest position in English football.
“It brings the most scrutiny. You have to have a world-class goalkeeper in the Premier League and Man United need to make that change now.”
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