Ruben Amorim unhappy with Onana’s performances for Man Utd

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 26 Feb 2025 15:14 GMT
• 4 min read

Ruben Amorim and his coaching staff are unhappy with the performances of Andre Onana.

That is according to former Man Utd chief scout Mick Brown, who regularly reveals inside information from Old Trafford.

Brown says that Amorim’s coaching staff are far from impressed with what they have seen from Onana since the manager’s appointment in November.

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The staff feel that Onana is someone who could be upgraded but it is also acknowledged that United would rather not have to spend money on the goalkeeper position in the summer.

What did Mick Brown say?

“The coaching staff are concerned about Onana’s performances,” Brown told Football Insider.

“He hasn’t been good enough, and it’s becoming a major issue for them.

“The problem is, Onana was supposed to be the long-term solution in that position.

“They didn’t think De Gea was good enough with the ball at his feet, so they didn’t renew his contract and they went out to buy a new goalkeeper.

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“So they ended up going out and paying £50 million for Onana.

“Now, from what I hear, they don’t want to have to go out and spend big money on a new goalkeeper because it’s like admitting they got it wrong with him.

“Can you say at this point he’s £50 million better than De Gea was? No chance.

“But given that’s what he was brought in to be, he’s got to come up with the performances to prove it, and he’s not been doing that.

“There are serious question marks about him because he’s made so many errors that have cost his side or made things far more difficult for them – like against Everton.

“Parrying the ball has been a problem for him, he struggles to push the ball wide which is an important aspect of goalkeeping to relieve pressure.

“Sometimes he makes saves where you wonder how he pulled it off, so he has to be given credit.

“But does he spread confidence to his defence and the players in front of him?

“If every time the opposition have a shot from range they’re worried they might be in trouble, then they’ve got serious problems in the side.”

Onana signed for Man Utd in the summer of 2023 for €51m - plus €4m in bonuses - from Inter Milan.

Big things were expected of the Cameroonian, who had enjoyed an outstanding Champions League season with the Nerazzurri, playing a key role in their run to the final.

He kept more clean sheets than anyone in the tournament, including five in the knockout rounds, as Inter narrowly and unluckily lost 1-0 to Man City in the showpiece in June. He was also heralded as the best goalkeeper in the world with the ball at his feet.

However, Onana endured an error-prone season last term, with United having their worst defensive record and most goals conceded in decades.

He made a string of mistakes, in particular in the Champions League group stage elimination in games against Galatasaray, Copenhagen and Bayern Munich.

This season Onana has improved a touch but he has still made far too many errors in what has been another disastrous season for Man Utd.