Andre Onana told he’s better off playing right back due to ‘very weird’ weakness

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has endured a difficult time in recent weeks, with the former Ajax and Inter Milan star making crucial errors that have cost the team

Andre Onana would be better off playing right back for Manchester United, according to former Red Devils star Paul Parker. The goalkeeper has been slammed during a difficult run of form and Parker reckons Ruben Amorim would be better off with David De Gea at his disposal.

Onana was not included in United’s squad for the humiliating 4-1 defeat by Newcastle United after an error-strewn Europa League display against Lyon last week. The ex-Ajax and Inter star’s display followed a public war of words with Nemanja Matic in which the Serbia international suggested Onana was among the club’s worst ever goalkeepers.

United splashed £47.2million to sign Onana in 2023 but the 29-year-old has failed to prove consistently convincing as the 13-times Premier League champions’ No.1 option. Back-up shotstopper Altay Bayindir was selected to face the Magpies instead of Onana but did little to suggest he was a superior option as Amorim’s side conceded four goals.

Parker has blasted Onana’s technique, suggesting the goalkeeper looks like an outfield player who has been forced to go in goal. The 61-year-old believes United should never have parted ways with De Gea.

“I just don’t see him as a natural goalkeeper and he doesn’t have very good hands,” Parker told the home of UFC betting. “He’d be better off at right back. I’ve looked and he just doesn’t move his feet to get into positions, he just dives very weirdly.

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“He looks like when a goalkeeper has been sent off and a centre-half has gone in goal. Matic just said what Premier League pundits wouldn’t say, and I’ve been saying it for ages about him – they’ll all say it now, but Matic came out and gave an opinion on him and what he said is the absolute truth.

“I always said they should never have gotten rid of De Gea, because he wasn’t good enough with his feet? He just won his fourth player of the year with Fiorentina, having won three at United.

“You need a goalkeeper that is better with their hands than their feet. Surely that’s the priority – a keeper that actually makes saves. Manchester United won a European trophy because of De Gea getting a Jose Mourinho team to the final.”

Following errors against Lyon last week, Amorim suggested Onana needed some time out of the spotlight. United’s goalkeeper was set to return to training ahead of the return leg against the French side at Old Trafford however.

“You have to see the context,” Amorim told Sky Sports. “Sometimes you have to push the player to play again, sometimes you have to let him disconnect a little bit.

“Tomorrow he will be in training to prepare for [Lyon] so I felt that it was a good time for Andre to disconnect. I think he was ok because I explained. You don’t need to like it but you understand because I explain everything. You have to manage everything. Sometimes people just look at the physical aspect but the mental aspect is really important. It’s just one game and tomorrow is a new life.”

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