Andre Onana: Why I am joining Man Utd
Carlo Garganese
- 19 Jul 2023 10:51 BST
- 3 min read
Andre Onana has explained the reasons for joining Manchester United from Inter Milan, describing the offer from the Red Devils as “irresistible”.
Onana will officially become a Man Utd player within the next 24-48 hours after jetting into Manchester for his medical and to complete formalities of the move.
Man Utd will pay Inter a fee of around €55 million.
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And Onana has explained why he is making the move, stressing that he leaves Inter on good terms.
What did Onana say?
“The important thing is to be honest and always tell people the truth,” Onana told Gazzetta dello Sport.
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“I am a person who always wants new challenges.
“Playing in the Premier League and for a club like United is irresistible. All parties wanted this to happen.
“But what matters is that, even if I had stayed, I would have been equally happy because I never had any problems at Inter. Indeed, a magic was born in Milan that is almost difficult to explain.
“Being chosen to continue this tradition [at United after goalkeepers like Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar] makes me proud and responsible: I want to win trophies with my new companions.”
Onana will replace David de Gea as Man Utd’s number one, with the Spaniard leaving on a free transfer at the end of last month.
The Inter star is Erik ten Hag’s favourite goalkeeper. The pair worked together at Ajax, with Onana playing a key role as Ten Hag’s side reached the 2019 Champions League semi-final - being seconds away from making the final.
Onana at Inter Milan
Onana only arrived at Inter a year ago on a free transfer after he saw out his contract at Ajax.
The 27-year-old was a revelation at San Siro, soon displacing long-term number one Samir Handanovic from the starting XI.
The ex-Ajax man was one the best goalkeepers in all of Europe last season, perhaps the best of all in the Champions League.
He had more clean sheets than any goalkeeper in the Champions League, with eight shutouts taking Inter all the way to the final where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Man City.
He is brilliant with his feet and reads the game fantastically, acting as a sweeper. This is something Ten Hag particularly wants in his goalkeeper, and what De Gea is lacking from his game.
