André Onana

André Onana (French pronunciation emerges as a prominent Cameroonian professional footballer renowned for his role as a goalkeeper, currently gracing the Premier League stage with Manchester United and representing the Cameroon national team.
The trajectory of Onana's career took shape when he entered Barcelona's youth system in 2010, laying the groundwork for his journey in professional football. His transfer to Ajax in 2015 marked a pivotal moment, where he amassed an impressive tally of 214 appearances and clinched three Eredivisie titles, etching his name in the annals of Dutch football history.
A new chapter unfolded for Onana when he made a bold move to Inter Milan on a free transfer in July 2022. Despite a brief stint, he left an indelible mark by securing both Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana titles in his solitary season at the club, culminating in a memorable run to the Champions League final.


Manchester United, recognizing his prowess between the posts, secured Onana's services for an initial fee of £43.8 million in 2023, heralding a new chapter in his illustrious career.
On the international stage, Onana has been a stalwart for the Cameroon national team, amassing over 30 appearances since his debut in September 2016. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping the team's fortunes, solidifying his status as a revered figure within Cameroonian football.


Following extensive discussions with the club throughout the month, reports emerged on 16 July 2023, indicating that Onana had reached an agreement on personal terms with Manchester United for a lucrative five-year contract. The deal, confirmed by Manchester United on 20 July, involved an initial transfer fee of £43.8 million from Inter, with potential add-ons amounting to £3.4 million. Notably, this move reunited Onana with his former Ajax mentor, Erik ten Hag.
Onana's competitive debut for Manchester United unfolded in the Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he exhibited his prowess by securing a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory. However, his performance stirred controversy as referee Simon Hooper and VAR Michael Salisbury opted against awarding a late penalty for a foul committed by Onana on Saša Kalajdžić.


The spotlight intensified on 20 September, following a disappointing 4–3 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League opener. Onana publicly acknowledged his errors during the match, expressing remorse for "letting the team down." Despite criticism from some quarters, journalist Guillem Balague deemed Onana "not the perfect goalkeeper but good enough for Manchester United." In a bid to inspire Onana, manager Erik ten Hag invoked the legacies of Manchester United's legendary goalkeepers Peter Schmeichel and David de Gea.
On 24 October 2023, Onana emerged as the hero by saving a penalty in the 97th minute during a tense Champions League encounter against Copenhagen, securing his club's first victory in the competition that season.

However, a month later, Onana faced severe scrutiny for his performance in a 3–3 Champions League draw against Galatasaray. Criticism mounted as he was directly implicated in Galatasaray's first two goals, originating from free kicks executed by former Ajax teammate Hakim Ziyech. Media outlets characterized it as "a night of suffering" for Onana, who was accused of "carelessly conceding" the first goal, "catastrophically fumbling" the second, and being "too easily beaten" for the third. Despite the backlash, manager Erik ten Hag stood by Onana, citing statistics that positioned him as the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League.


Onana's journey in international football commenced during his tenure as a Cameroon youth international, setting the stage for his eventual ascent to the senior squad. Notably, he earned inclusion in Cameroon's squad for a friendly encounter against France in May 2016, marking an early milestone in his international career.
His senior debut for Cameroon materialized in a thrilling 2–1 friendly victory over Gabon in September 2016, a momentous occasion that underscored his emergence on the international stage. Onana's involvement extended to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where he played a pivotal role in the third-place game against Burkina Faso, contributing to his nation's success on the continental platform.


However, his international journey encountered turbulence, notably during the buildup to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Named in Cameroon's final squad, Onana experienced a tumultuous tournament, characterized by his exclusion from subsequent matches and eventual dismissal from the squad on 28 November due to a disciplinary altercation with manager Rigobert Song over coaching tactics. Consequently, Onana announced his retirement from international football on 23 December 2022, marking a temporary hiatus from representing his nation.


In a dramatic turn of events, Onana's international career witnessed a revival just over eight months later, as he received a recall to the Cameroon squad by Rigobert Song for an Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Burundi on 29 August 2023. Subsequently, Onana formally affirmed his return to international duty on 4 September via social media, expressing his commitment to representing his country amidst challenges of manipulation and abuse of power. Despite his return, former player Patrick Suffo cautioned that Onana's presence didn't signify an end to issues within the national team, signaling ongoing challenges to be addressed.


Onana epitomizes the modern archetype of a sweeper-keeper, distinguished by his formidable distribution skills and proactive involvement in the build-up phase of play. Renowned for his audacity to venture out of his box, he assumes a pivotal role in orchestrating play from deep, characterized by his assuredness on the ball and diverse passing range. This approach was exemplified during Cameroon's 2022 World Cup opener against Switzerland, where Onana showcased his adeptness with the ball by accumulating an unprecedented 26 touches outside the box, a feat unparalleled by any goalkeeper in World Cup history since records were first kept in 1966. Such versatility hasn't gone unnoticed, with UEFA's Technical Observers' report on the 2022–23 Champions League likening his playing style to that of a "holding midfielder" on occasions.


Onana's prowess as a "modern keeper" was underscored, lauded for seamlessly blending the technique of an outfield player into his goalkeeping repertoire. This commendation encapsulates Onana's evolution into a multifaceted goalkeeper, capable of contributing significantly beyond traditional goalkeeping duties, thus solidifying his status as a transformative figure in the realm of contemporary football.

References

1.  "FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017: List of Players: Cameroon" (PDF). FIFA. 2 July 2017. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2017.
2. ^ André Onana – UEFA competition record (archive)
3. ^ "André Onana". Inter Milan. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
4. ^ "Mondial-2022 : Le gardien André Onana écarté de l'équipe du Cameroun pour indiscipline" [World-2022: Goalkeeper André Onana dismissed from the Cameroon team for indiscipline]. YouTube (in French). France 24. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
5. ^ "André Onana on the error that led to a nine-month ban: '40mg can destroy a career'". theguardian.com. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
6. ^ "Barcelona line up possible move for Ajax goalkeeper Onana". sport.es. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
7. ^ "The story of Andre Onana — one of Europe's most wanted goalkeepers". theathletic.com. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
8. ^ "Onana, cedido al Vista Alegre". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 1 July 2013. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
9. a b Oluwashina Okeleji (4 January 2015). "Cameroon's Onana to join Ajax from Barcelona". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
10. ^ "Talentvolle Onana lost keepersprobleem Ajax op" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 14 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
11. ^ "Onana makes immediate Ajax switch". Soccerway. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
12. ^ "Barca's Onana makes immediate Ajax switch". FourFourTwo. 14 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.