Manchester United now now left with worst possible outcome as summer signing’s situation descends into farce

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Manchester United have made a big situation out of Andre Onana travelling to the African Cup of Nations, and it has backfired.

Even if Manchester United did not know Andre Onana would be included in the African Cup of Nations when he signed for the club last July, it has been on the agenda since early September when he was recalled to the squad.

With the AFCON taking place mid-season, losing the first choice stopper was always going to be inconvenient for United.

Yet with two quality back-ups in Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton, and a light fixture list due to a mid-January break, the issue was not particularly severe. In fact, it was an opportunity to rotate.

Cameroon drop Andre Onana

Manchester United decided to delay Andre Onana’s departure to the African Cup of Nations, selecting him in the FA Cup against Wigan and Premier League against Tottenham.

This meant he missed Cameroon’s first game, having no preparation time with his national side, and when he did play in their second game, already under pressure, he delivered a below-par performance.

This led to Onana being axed for Cameroon’s final group game, which they won against Gambia.

Now United are left waiting, and so is Onana

Andre Onana wanted to have his cake and eat it too. He wanted to play every game for Manchester United and Cameroon.

At one stage he even hoped to play for United against Tottenham on January 14, and for Cameroon a day later on the 15th. That didn’t quite work out.

Now, he risks spending the end to his January sitting on the Cameroon bench, while Manchester United play without him.

If Cameroon had lost to Gambia, he would have simply returned, and reclaimed his place in the Manchester United team. But they have qualified for the knockout phase.

He is gone from trying to play in all the games, to playing in none. And his greatest fear will be that if Altay Bayindir seizes his opportunity, Onana could return from the Cameroon bench to the Manchester United one.

This has all become a farce, and it is one Manchester United and Onana could have easily avoided.

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