Manchester United replaced David de Gea with Andre Onana in the summer of 2023.
It was Erik ten Hag who decided to make the change following David de Gea’s contract wrangle. The Dutch coach wanted to take Manchester United forward by signing a modern goalkeeper as De Gea left as a free agent after spending 12 years at Old Trafford.
Andre Onana arrived from Inter Milan after impressing in his only season in Serie A, during which he reached the 2023 Champions League final, only to lose against Manchester City. He had worked with Ten Hag at Ajax, so mutual respect existed between the pair.
However, the Cameroon international has had a topsy-turvy time at United after making several high-profile blunders over his 19-month stay.
In 24 Premier League appearances this season, Onana has conceded 34 goals and made seven clean sheets. It doesn’t help that United are sitting 13th in the table.
David De Gea of ACF Fiorentina looks over his shoulder during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Giuseppe Mea...
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Frans Hoek compares Andre Onana and David de Gea
Former Manchester United goalkeeper coach Frans Hoek worked under Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.
Having worked with other top coaches of the game, including Johan Cryuff, Hoek can boast an incredible list of goalkeepers he has worked with down the years.
Hoek worked with Edwin van der Sar at Ajax, Victor Valdes and Pepe Reina at Barcelona, and he was part of the scouting process that brought Manuel Neuer from Schalke to Bayern Munich.
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During his time at United he worked with Valdes again as well as De Gea.
Speaking to RG, Hoek gave his verdict on how Onana has done in terms of replacing De Gea at United.
“I was there at the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final and I thought Onana had a perfect game, he was amazing for Inter,” Hoek said.
“He is capable of playing at an incredibly high level and can reach an incredible level, but you have to do it three times a week, 50–60 times a year, which is very difficult.
“Consistency is the most important thing for a goal player, De Gea was incredibly consistent in my two years at United, and if I look at Onana, I can see he’s not consistent.”
It’s interesting to hear that Hoek sees just one glaring trait that Onana is missing to see him reach De Gea’s levels at United.
The question is, will he ever show that type of consistency?
De Gea shining at Fiorentina
Although it took over a year for De Gea to find a new club, the Spaniard has settled in at Fiorentina, who sit sixth in Serie A – just one point behind Juventus.
Many questions were asked of De Gea when he left United whether he could stay playing at the top level, despite the lack of ball playing ability.
De Gea have proved himself again with Fiorentina – at the age of 34 – as a reliable goalkeeper.
Proud of the belief once again within this group
Despite the result and circumstances – sometimes the character is just as important
Onto Sunday 👊 pic.twitter.com/wy9seFKXyE
— David de Gea (@D_DeGea) February 11, 2025
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Some of us were never in doubt as De Gea ranks high in United’s best-ever goalkeepers.