Andre Onana has been praised following his Trabzonspor debut against Fenerbahce, with Turkish media and fans hailing his leadership qualities and ability on the ball
Andre Onana
Andre Onana impressed on his Trabzonspor debut despite being on the losing side
Andre Onana has been showered in praise for his Trabzonspor debut despite being on the losing side. Following a series of costly errors that saw him lose his spot as Manchester United's first-choice keeper, Onana was shipped out before the transfer window closed, securing a season-long loan switch to the Super Lig outfit.
The Cameroon international made his bow for his new side on Sunday as Trabzonspor travelled to face Fenerbahce, who also boasted a familiar figure between the sticks as Ederson made his first appearance.
It was the former Manchester City shot-stopper who had cause for celebration as Fenerbahce secured a narrow 1-0 triumph over 10-man Trabzonspor. Youssef En-Nesyri netted the decisive strike just before half-time after Onana had pushed away an effort from ex-United midfielder Fred.
The ball was then laid off to En-Nesyri, who tucked home from point-blank range. However, despite the disappointing outcome, Onana's display impressed supporters and Turkish press alike. 61saat.com reported that Onana had "dazzled in his first appearance" and had secured "rave reviews from fans for his performance."
The same title highlighted his composure on the ball, noting: "His footwork allowed him to build play from the back. At times, he would weave between the defenders to join the passing game, enabling his team to push forward with short, audacious passes. At one point, he even went as far as midfield to take a free kick."
Andre Onana
Onana kept Trabzonspor in the game after they were reduced to 10 men
Onana also received acclaim for his "leadership" qualities after "rushing" to calm down an annoyed Paul Onuachu, who had just received a yellow card for dissent following a disallowed goal.
Meanwhile, Onana, who was named man of the match with a rating of 8.7, was praised by the Haberler website for "single-handedly" keeping Trabzonspor in the game after they were reduced to 10 men following Okay Yokuslu's 20th-minute sending off.
His conduct was also commended. Onana was described as a "kind of big brother to his team-mates with his experience" while it was said that he "installed confidence with his leadership on the pitch."
Andre Onana during his Trabzonspor debut
Onana was praised for his leadership(Image: Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)
This performance was a stark contrast from many of his displays under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, who only selected Onana for the Carabao Cup embarrassment at Grimsby Town this season, while Altay Bayindir was the preferred choice for Premier League matches.
Despite the signing of Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp, Bayindir retained his place for Sunday's derby loss at City. Amorim now faces the decision of whether to stick with Bayindir or give Lammens his debut against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday.
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