Manchester United’s transfer policy in recent years has attracted plenty of attention and one of their former stars has given his verdict on one of the current crop
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has slammed the club’s decision to replace David de Gea with Andre Onana as one of the biggest transfer mistakes in more than 30 years of Premier League football.
Cameroon international Onana joined United in the summer of 2023, fresh from helping Inter Milan reach the final of the Champions League. He recovered from an difficult start to impress in the second half of last season, but the errors have returned this term.
Most recently, a mix-up between Onana and defender Patrick Dorgu allowed Ipswich to take an early lead at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The keeper rushed from his line, only for Dorgu to prod the ball beyond him and leave Jaden Philogene with a simple finish.
United bounced back from that early setback, winning 3-2 despite playing more than half the game with 10 men. Onana’s form remains a concern, though, at least where Foster is concerned.
“With regards to goalkeeping especially, that’s right at the top of it,” Foster said on The Cycling GK podcast after suggestions the Onana signing was the biggest mistake in Premier League history. The England international then reflected on Ipswich’s opener, pinning the blame firmly on United’s stopper.
“When [Patrick] Dorgu is running back to his goal with Philogene next to him, he’s aware that Philogene is there but can only really see Onana,” Foster continued. “Onana can see the whole picture. Onana is the guy that should be in control of that whole situation, he’s the one that should be vocal, should be pointing, should be trying to make eye contact with Dorgu.
“He’s done none of that, all he’s done is close the space and as soon as you do that you’re asking for trouble and as it played out, it was an absolute disaster. Onana should have tried to make eye contact with Dorgu as he’s running down to him, making arm gestures, telling him what to do. But back off, keep that space and Dorgu would have known to just roll the ball to the side to Onana, who could have played a nice little pass to the right back.”
Should Manchester United have kept faith with David de Gea? Have your say in the comments section
Onana’s predecessor De Gea spent a year out of the game after leaving United in 2023. He found a new club in the summer of 2024, though, and has established himself as Fiorentina’s first choice since joining the Serie A side.
United head coach Ruben Amorim has continued to keep faith in Onana on the pitch, with the keeper an ever-present in the Premier League. After a recent error allowed Brighton’s Georginio Rutter to score at Old Trafford, though, the boss gave an honest verdict on the mistake.
“It’s like the team, ups and downs,” Amorim said. “Really up, sometimes, and really low downs. We have to maintain the focus during all the game to try to win. That is the only way we can turn things around.”
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