Andre Onana joined Trabzonspor on loan from Manchester United in September and has been helping the Turkish side climb to the upper reaches of the Super Lig table
Andre Onana celebrating a win for Trabzonspor
Andre Onana celebrating a win for Trabzonspor(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Former Manchester United No.1 Andre Onana appeared to aim a subtle dig at his Old Trafford colleagues when reflecting on his start at Trabzonspor. The Cameroon international moved on loan to Turkey after falling out of favour with United and has enjoyed four straight wins with his new club.
Trabzonspor sit second in the Super Lig with 23 points, picking up 13 of those in Onana's six outings between the sticks. While the move is only a loan at first, the ex-Inter Milan man could end up completing a permanent move in 2026.
Certainly, Senne Lammens has impressed so far as he makes his case to remain United's first choice for the present and future. Onana, meanwhile, appears far happier with his current team-mates.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has praised Onana for his play with ball at feet on multiple occasions. Responding to that praise, the keeper pointed to the value his colleagues play in allowing him to take the approach he does.
"As I always say, most of the time, it’s my teammates who give me the options when I’m building up the game," he said, per Sporx (via Sport Witness). "If they help me, the work looks much better.”
The comments could be read as an implication that he didn't receive the same kind of help at United. While Onana came in for criticism for some high-profile errors unrelated to playing out from the back, United's defensive struggles were well documented.
In Onana's two seasons between the sticks, the Red Devils conceded 58 and 54 goals respectively. They had only conceded more than 50 goals in two other seasons in the Premier League era, though one of those instances came in the 2021/22 campaign with some of the same defenders who are at the club now.
Andre Onana during Grimsby Town vs Manchester United
Onana during his last United appearance in August
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Reflecting more widely on his approach, Onana said: “If I have to create a play, I analyse it first. Are the opponents pressing, are they pressing with their wingers, are they pressing with their strikers, or are their centre-backs coming forward?
“These are the things I need to see when I have the ball. I watch how the opponents are moving and then I look at the options and make my decision. Of course, it’s always great to hear a comment like that from Pep Guardiola. He’s one of the best managers in the history of football."
With just seven goals conceded in 10 games, Onana's Trabzonspor side boast one of the better defensive records in Turkey. His parent club have conceded 14 goals in their nine league games - three in three with Lammens in goal and 11 in six with Altay Bayindir between the sticks.
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