Sir Jim Ratcliffe's blunt assessment of Andre Onana raises fresh doubts over the goalkeeper's future with Saudi clubs eyeing a summer move
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Andre Onana has been linked with a summer move to Saudi Arabia
Andre Onana has been linked with a summer move to Saudi Arabia(Image: Jan Kruger - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images.)
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already laid out his feelings regarding the club's purchase of Andre Onana with the goalkeeper a target for Saudi Arabia in the summer.
Onana was brought in by former Man United manager Erik ten Hag to replace the departing and long-serving David De Gea. Despite some blunders here and there for the Cameroonian, he has remained the No.1 shot-stopper at Old Trafford.
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As the end of the season approaches, bringing the beginning of the summer transfer window ever-closer, Ruben Amorim is set for an overhaul of the squad. Onana did not initially look under threat at being moved out, but now with Saudi Arabia reportedly targeting the 28-year-old this summer, Man United may be tempted to cash out.
United's current need to raise funds to ensure they remain compliant with Premier League profit and sustainability rules may urge the club to make a big-name sale like Onana, especially with the Saudi Pro-Leagues history of large transfer fees. Co-owner Ratcliffe is constantly looking at ways to raise funds and has already mentioned 'sorting out' Onana.
He said in an interview with the BBC: "If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn't buy, we're buying Antony, we're buying Casemiro, we're buying Onana, we're buying [Rasmus] Hojlund, we're buying [Jadon] Sancho.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe speaks with Gary Neville
Sir Jim Ratcliffe sees Onana as an 'inherited' player(Image: YouTube/TheOverlap)
"These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we've inherited those things and have to sort that out. For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we're paying £17m to buy him in the summer."
Man United spent £43.8m brining Onana to England from Inter Milan. He still has three years remaining on his contract and is understood to want to stay in Manchester and will only leave if the clubs tells him to go.
Chairman of Ineos Ratcliffe has already cut around 450 jobs at the club, closed down the staff canteen and shut off funding to a Man United club charity that supported ex-players who can't live off their former wages. It wouldn't be a surprise if the billionaire pushed Onana out for a hefty Saudi transfer fee, especially after labelling the Cameroonian 'inherited.'
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