Edwin van der Sar, the former Manchester United goalkeeper who later served as Ajax chief executive, has publicly backed Andre Onana to remain at Old Trafford, insisting the 29-year-old Cameroonian still has the quality to succeed at the highest level.
Speaking to Sky Bet, Van der Sar drew on his direct experience of working with Onana during their time together in Amsterdam. “I worked with Andre Onana for three or four years at Ajax,” he said. “He came in as a third-choice goalkeeper and was very eager to step up and become the first choice. I thought, and I still think, that he has tremendous qualities — reflections and his feet — but somehow, he has the odd mistake in him that makes you think ‘That’s crazy, how can he do that.'”
Van der Sar’s comments carry particular weight given his close knowledge of Onana’s development. The Cameroonian joined Ajax as a junior goalkeeper and worked his way up to become a key figure at the club across a six-year stint, before completing a £47 million transfer to Manchester United in 2023. That move came on the back of an outstanding season with Inter Milan, where Onana played a central role in the Italian club’s run to the UEFA Champions League final.
However, his tenure at United has been marked more by disappointment than distinction. A series of high-profile errors cost him his starting position, and this season the club moved decisively by signing Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens as their new first-choice option. Onana was subsequently loaned out to Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor for the remainder of the campaign.
According to reports, Manchester United have already made the decision to part ways with Onana on a permanent basis this summer, regardless of whether Trabzonspor choose to activate any purchase option included in the loan agreement. The reported plan would bring an end to what has been a turbulent three-year association between the goalkeeper and the club.
Onana’s situation reflects a broader period of instability at Manchester United, who have undergone significant squad restructuring in recent seasons. The goalkeeper position has been a recurring area of concern, with both David de Gea and Onana departing under difficult circumstances following extended runs in the first team.
Despite the setbacks, Van der Sar’s endorsement serves as a reminder of the level Onana reached before his move to the Premier League. His performances for Inter Milan during the 2022-23 season, in which the Nerazzurri reached the Champions League final before losing to Manchester City, were widely regarded as among the best of his career to that point.
Whether United’s hierarchy will reconsider their reported stance in light of Van der Sar’s intervention remains to be seen. With the summer transfer window approaching, a final decision on Onana’s future at Old Trafford is expected to be confirmed in the coming months.
