When Erik ten Hag booked Andre Onana after making sure David de Gea was done at Old Trafford, there was a shift to what was supposed to be the “modern” United game with the goalkeeper as a 12th outfield player. On Sunday, we received yet another confirmation of how wrong this shift has gone.
At Inter Milan, Onana had impressed even Pep Guardiola with his brilliant qualities along the ground with the ball and accuracy in through passes to the attacking players. David de Gea’s play with the ball on the grass was assessed as so, as so. United dumped De Gea and his wage demands, but at the same time dumped the 2022/23 season’s best goalkeeper in the Premier League. Ten Hag didn’t think much about this, he had brought his favourite goalkeeper from the Ajax era to Old Trafford.
Soon on the eve of Onana’s second season, we see that this shift has added to the problems United already had. Because it turned out that it was David de Gea who had helped save points for Manchester United. Onana has her world-class saves, but can go straight into the next game with giant blunders. This creates great uncertainty for the defenders.
Against Arsenal, we heard Manchester United supporters have lost patience with Onana.
The Manchester Evening News reports on the atmosphere in the stands.
“The Old Trafford crowd had lost patience with Andre Onana for a few weeks, and the tension rose to the surface again in the first half. He sent a kick straight out of play. A goalkeeper signed for the distribution of balls, now represents an insecurity with the ball at his feet. The perfect comparison came less than 60 seconds after this event. David Raya calmly chipped a 40-yard pass into midfield, breaking a United line in the process and starting an attack that ended a few seconds later with a shot on goal,” the English local newspaper begins.
“It was an unflattering comparison for a goalkeeper who is quickly becoming a problem for Amorim, but it was telling in the second half that when Onana put another kick straight out for a throw-in, the head coach turned to him and clapped his hands over his head. It was a gesture seen by the goalkeeper, who put his thumb up against the bench. Maybe that’s not what United spent £47 million on…”, says the English newspaper dryly.
David de Gea is a big player in Serie A for Fiorentina and is considered one of the league’s very best goalkeepers. With only 25 conceded in 27 Serie A games, Fiorentina are still in the running for a ticket to play in Europe. Much thanks to the former Manchester United goalkeeper.
In the summer, De Gea’s contract will expire if he does not extend. According to The Athletic, De Gea told friends after his exit from Old Trafford that he was open to returning to Manchester United if Erik ten Hag and boss John Murtough were away from the club.
Now both are gone and De Gea is in great form and will soon be available as a free agent.
Okay, De Gea also had his blunders, but he left Manchester United in the summer of 2023, as the Premier League’s best goalkeeper. He also left the Red Devils with 190 games without a back-to-back, the most in United history. When Ten Hag started to show he wanted a new first goalkeeper, De Gea responded by bending his neck, fighting on and delivering as the league’s best goalkeeper this season.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: It makes perfect sense for Manchester United to bring De Gea back.
