Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Manchester United loanee Andre Onana is enjoying being back at Trabzonspor, where he is already earning rave reviews.
One of the first moves Manchester United made in the transfer window was to ship out Andre Onana on another loan deal.
It was disappointing that United could not generate a fee for a player who cost the club £43 million three years earlier. But it also spoke volumes that United simply did not want the headache of having Onana return to Carrington for pre-season.
Onana was sent back out to Trabzonspor, where he spent last season, following a hastily arranged loan in mid-September.
Trabzonspor was Onana’s choice out of convenience last year after he was axed by United with only the Turkish Super Lig window still open.
But this year he had his heart set on a return to Trabzonspor, as he has been explaining in a new interview in Turkey.
Manchester United player Andre Onana seen during the Turkish Super Lig match between Genclerbirligi and Trabzonspor at the Eryaman Stadium in Ankara, Turkiye, in 2025.
Photo by Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu via Getty Images
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Andre Onana says return was promised
Andre Onana won the Turkish Cup with Trabzonspor by defeating Konyaspor in late May.
Onana told Haber that a conversation took place on the pitch where he learned Trabzonspor would prioritise his return.
He said: “My decision to return was very simple. The moment we won the cup, our president Ertuğrul came to me on the field and said, ‘Andre, I want you to stay for another year.’
“After that, we discussed the terms. We agreed on terms that would make both sides very happy, and the deal was finalized very quickly.
“I really wanted to come back here because our president is a man of his word. He conveyed this request to me, and I made the decision to return to a place where I was already happy with a very easy choice.”
Onana is full of confidence after settling in at the Turkish side, who finished in third place in the Super Lig last season.
He believes it was fate that he signed with the club, as he had a part to play in helping the team win the cup competition for the first time since 2020.
Onana said: “History always remembers its winners… Perhaps this is why I was transferred to Trabzonspor.
“To be able to step up in these difficult moments, to be able to take responsibility when necessary. Things can go well sometimes, and badly sometimes, but it’s necessary to take responsibility in those moments.”
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Onana earning rave reviews
Trabzonspor have been ramping up their preparations for the season with a training camp in Austria.
Onana’s performances, conditioning and general demeanour have earned rave reviews from the Turkish media.
The Gunebakis outlet praised his performance in a friendly win over Udinese, noting: “Trabzonspor’s goalkeeper Andre Onana kept a clean sheet with crucial interventions during Udinese’s dangerous attacks.
“The experienced goalkeeper played a significant role in the 1-0 victory with his reassuring performance.”
Taka Gazete reported: “In addition to his saves in the preseason matches, his communication with the defenders and his calmness in game setups caught attention.
“His close attention to the young goalkeepers, his constant conversations with them during training, and his sharing of experience were particularly pleasing to the coaching staff.”
And a snippet from Nefes reported: “Andre Onana, who lost 8 kilos during the holiday period and joined the camp in good physical condition, provided confidence in goal with his experience and performance.”
Trabzonspor begin the Super Lig season on August 15 away at Kasimpasa.