Andre Onana is set to depart Manchester United on loan to join Trabzonspor
Goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar, Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington
Jelle ten Rouwelaar, Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir during a Manchester United first team training session at Carrington in October 2024
Andre Onana has endured a difficult two years in Manchester.
The goalkeeper is set to move on loan to Trabzonspor before the Turkish transfer window closes on Friday, and it's difficult to imagine a scenario where he returns to Manchester United as first choice.
Altay Bayindir has been preferred this term and Senne Lammens joined last week to add further competition. Onana has been the fall guy.
He joined for more than £40million after starring for Inter Milan in their run to the 2023 Champions League final and despite some bright moments, will be remembered more for blunders than consistency.
Yet there was a period where Onana looked to have discovered the composure and calmness needed. The Cameroon international enjoyed a poor start to his United career but ended that first season with an FA Cup winner's medal.
When Ruben Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag, Onana was perhaps enjoying his best and most stable period of his Old Trafford career.
He saved a penalty against Southampton, made a memorable double save against Crystal Palace and repeated the feat against Fenerbahce in Europe.
That period was also when Onana was working under goalkeeper coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar at United.
The former Burnley coach arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2024 and formed a strong working relationship with the clutch of keepers. The Dutchman impressed veteran Tom Heaton with innovative drills on the pre-season tour of America while Onana described him as a 'fantastic coach'.
Ten Rouwelaar was tasked with helping United play out from the back more effectively and also improve the decision-making of goalkeepers. Onana seemed to thrive.
Amorim's appointment meant ten Rouwelaar was moved on with the new boss bringing in his own staff. Yet Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was alongside ten Rouwelaar on the Old Trafford staff and then worked with him during his brief spell as interim boss of United, was impressed. He took him to Leicester City and was effusive with his praise of the former United man.
“He worked with Onana at United and I think he was in the best form of his life in the months he worked with Jelle," said Van Nistelrooy in January.
"He’s a fantastic addition to the team. He’s not only improving the goalkeepers and playing out, but the players around the keeper to do better.
“Of course, you need everyone to be involved in playing out from the back and that whole process he’s great at.”
Ten Rouwelaar is now at Brighton, having joined the Seagulls in the summer. For Onana, the second half of last season failed to build on the levels of the first and he was dropped for the final game of the campaign against Aston Villa. His only appearance since was at Grimsby in the Carabao Cup defeat and his United career effectively looks over.
Onana has made plenty of high profile mistakes, but he's been hampered by a poor team in front of him and the constant changing of coaches cannot have helped either.
The short-lived Ten Rouwelaar era seemed to bring out the best in the goalkeeper. Onana now faces a long road back.