Manchester United are closing in on signing Andre Onana – a player who was once left starstruck by David De Gea.
United said goodbye to De Gea on Saturday afternoon, although maybe that should the other way around.
The Spaniard announced his departure on social media after the expiration of his contract this summer.
United are now moving for a new goalkeeper and appear to be closing in on a major signing.
Fabrizio Romano reports that United are ‘really close’ to signing Inter Milan stopper Andre Onana.
Romano believes that personal terms have already been agreed and the deal should be wrapped up by the end of the week.
This move will see Onana reunite with United boss Erik ten Hag having previously worked together at Ajax.
Onana to United would also mean the Cameroonian is taking over from De Gea, the man who left him starstruck some six years ago…
David De Gea left Andre Onana starstruck in 2017
Onana featured against United in the Europa League final back in 2017.
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The Red Devils faced Ajax in Stockholm and ended up coming away with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Onana had become Ajax’s number one stopper in the 2016-17 season having emerged in the Jong Ajax side.
Only 21 at the time of that final against United, Onana was inexperienced and felt a little overawed by the whole occasion.
Onana felt that he and his Ajax teammates had lost the game before it even started as the fear of facing United spread through the squad.
Onana even tried to pull out of the game, stating that he ‘wasn’t well’ – but Edwin van der Sar told him to play.
The now-imminent United signing even admitted that being in the tunnel with De Gea before the game was a huge moment for him.
Onana noted that he had been using De Gea whilst playing on the PlayStation but was now stood right next to him ahead of a European final.
“We were in the tunnel, I saw De Gea just behind me, six months earlier I was playing PlayStation using him. And now I’m playing against him,” said Onana, recalling just how starstruck he was. “I had recently been promoted to the first team at Ajax,” he added.
De Gea didn’t actually play in this game as Jose Mourinho went with Sergio Romero in goal, leaving De Gea on the bench.
Still, De Gea’s reputation was clearly a big thing for a young Onana and the 27-year-old must now deal with the pressure of becoming his replacement at Old Trafford.