'One of the world's greatest' - Onana backed by former teammate

Stuart Telford

• 29 Sept 2023 16:23 BST
• 3 min read

Andre Onana has made some howlers for Manchester United since arriving from Inter Milan this summer, but his former Ajax teammate, and former Red Devil Daley Blind thinks the goalkeeper is the real deal.

Onana was signed to replace the outgoing David de Gea, and arrived with a big reputation and significant €52.5 million transfer fee after helping Inter into the Champions League final last season.

But the Cameroonian has made some glaring errors since, such as being lobbed from the halfway line against Lens in pre-season and letting Leroy Sane's shot go through him when Bayern Munich beat Man Utd 4-3 in the Champions League two weeks ago.

READ: Onana 'a fur coat with no knickers' for Man Utd

Despite those mistakes, Blind, who spent four years as Onana's teammate at Ajax having previously made 141 appearances for United between 2014 and '18, thinks Onana will come good at Old Trafford.

'One of the best in the world'

"He's one of the great goalkeepers in the world," he told The Athletic's Andy Mitten. "He has a nonchalance, he's complete and when he has his head right he can be one of the best goalkeepers. He's a winner. Always wants to train more. I had a good relationship with him."

Onana is one of a number of former Ajax players now at United, with Lisandro Martinez, Antony and Donny van de Beek also working under their former boss in Erik ten Hag. Van de Beek is out of favour, however. Blind thinks he knows why.

READ: La Liga club eye Donny van de Beek move for January

"Donny's a real No.10 and there are not a lot of teams who play with a No.10 in top football. I think he can adapt to new positions if he gets time. He has the quality to be a top player at United, but United doesn't wait for anyone."

Perhaps more likely for Van de Beek is a move to Onana's former employers Inter, although clubs from Galatasaray to Lorient have been linked with a move for the midfielder in recent months.