Despite the turmoil surrounding Manchester United’s season and discussions about their transfer goals for the summer, the issue with the goalkeepers was not at the forefront of concerns.
Indeed, Andre Onana's £47.5 million move was considered one of those "inheritance" transactions. verified by co-owner Sir Jim Ractcliffe , which is part of the £400 million the club still needs to pay for unsettled transfer fees.
And when discussing the financial aspects of "getting the house in order," Ratcliffe specifically named Onana and elaborated on how it would require some time for the club to transition "from the past into a new era in the future."
However, when the ex-United midfield player Nemanja Matic described Onana as one of Manchester United's "worst-ever goalkeepers." - and then the Cameroon international subsequently made two more errors in last week's 2-2 draw in Lyon - yet another 'crisis' in United's chaotic season emerged.
On Wednesday, Amorim will face questions from the press about which goalkeeper will be chosen for their important Europa League quarter-final against Lyon. The choice is between Onana and the team’s recent target of criticism, backup goalie Altay Bayindir, who is referred to as number two.
Regardless of whether he decides to respond or not is another issue altogether. However, once the selection has been made among the goalkeepers, it might influence the direction that Amorim and his struggling squad will take moving forward.
Omitting Onana from the lineup for the Premier League loss against Newcastle was the simple part.
Regarding the team's local scenario, unless there’s an improbable last-minute push for a UEFA Conference League position, United's season appears over. Asking Onana to take the weekend off and relax seems like a choice with minimal downsides.
This rule does not apply to the choice Amorim needs to make on Thursday. Regardless of which goalkeeper is left out, they will have to sit on the substitutes' bench.
The goalkeeper overlooked will surely be looking for a new club this summer.
It's still possible that both might depart, which would mean additional funds being spent on replacements that the club cannot easily afford.
This is far from an ideal scenario and wasn’t something the United leaders had in mind when Amorim joined the team from Sporting last November.
How in the world did we end up in this situation?
From the very beginning, Onana was at a disadvantage.
The reason behind Matic's assault remains unexplained.
In response to the fairly harmless remarks Onana made about Lyon prior to the match, where he expressed respect for the French team yet claimed that United were "far superior," he addressed those statements.
It is worth noting how vehemently the ex-Serbia midfield player stood up for the player Onana took over from, David de Gea, during the period when De Gea was making several errors in May 2019. The statement made at that time was, “He is among the top goalkeepers globally and will remain so for many years.”
Did Matic use Onana as unintended fallout to underscore a common belief that United erred in failing to extend De Gea’s contract in 2023 and instead signing the Cameroonian goalkeeper from Inter Milan for £47.2 million?
The tension escalated when Onana chose not to remain quiet or wait until after the match before responding. Despite being advised against it, he retaliated by saying, "I have won titles with the biggest club globally; some cannot claim the same."
Matic did not win any trophies during his time at Manchester United.
Against this background, Onana committed a critical error during Lyon’s opening goal in the 2-2 tie, which was followed by another misstep leading to the last-minute equalizer. This negative sentiment intensified significantly after his initial baffling mistake.
If that particular performance stood alone, it would have still been inadequate.
However, it is recognized even by those nearest to the ex-Ajax and Inter Milan goalkeeper that Onana's time at Manchester United has been marred by several significant errors.
Since joining Manchester United, he has conceded eight goals due to errors in all competitions, which is the highest number among Premier League goalkeepers during this period.
A sense emerged during Onana’s initial weeks at Manchester United that he was under closer examination than ever before in his career. This was highlighted when he was lobbed from 50 yards away during a pre-season match against Lens.
When Onana was instructed to move into a more advanced position upfield whenever his team possessed the ball, Diogo Dalot unexpectedly lost possession without facing any pressure from opponents.
The response was quite vigorous, and the goalkeeper faced ridicule in certain sections of social media. Despite not being at fault, his plays started becoming a topic for discussion.
It placed Onana at a disadvantage right from the start.
The lengthy wait for Bayindir
Bayindir meanwhile, waited patiently for his chance. And waited. And waited.
Arriving at the club for £4.3 million from Fenerbahce in September 2023, Bayindir regularly represented the Turkish national team.
Despite this, Erik ten Hag refused to field him. The previous manager of United went as far as convincing Onana to postpone joining the Cameroon team for the Africa Cup of Nations until after he could use him in an FA Cup match against League One side Wigan and a Premier League game versus Tottenham.
Bayindir ultimately got his chance during Onana's absence in the FA Cup fourth round against Newport, where United emerged victorious with a score of 4-2 despite losing their initial two-goal advantage. This proved to be Bayindir’s sole appearance for the season. This limited opportunity seemed to reflect little confidence from Ten Hag.
Prior to the match against Newcastle, Bayindir had made six appearances this season, all in cup matches. He took part in the final two fixtures of United's Europa League group stage but missed the round-of-16 clash with Real Sociedad due to injury and returned to being an unused substitute in Lyon.
It comes as little surprise that many of his closest associates have sensed he would be departing this summer.
Newcastle presented an opportunity to shift the storyline. However, Bayindir’s kicks were inconsistent, leading to a blunder that resulted in the home team scoring their fourth goal.
As anticipated, argued Bayindir's supporters, the 27-year-old was thrust into a significantly altered lineup, where several players were noticeably short on confidence.
Does 'leader' Onana still have Amorim's faith?
Still, Onana, who appeared extroverted and self-assured, might be excused for experiencing similar doubts.
His leadership within the locker room is seen as a significant asset for a team that otherwise lacks such qualities. However, reunified with his former manager Ten Hag due to his skillful handling of the ball, Onana often finds himself required to make longer passes and deliver balls to forwards who have difficulty retaining possession.
Many believe Amorim strongly backs him, yet adapting to the new defensive setup, which most players aren’t accustomed to, has proven challenging.
He feels more at ease away from the game compared to his time in Italy, largely due to speaking English with his family. However, Onana realizes that Manchester United’s recent displays haven’t measured up. Though he acknowledges his part in this underperformance, he senses an unfair burden of guilt as numerous elements contribute to their struggles.
People close to him believe that if Manchester United’s Europa League run doesn’t conclude with them hoisting the trophy in Bilbao next month and securing their spot in the Champions League, the match against Olympique Lyonnais will likely be seen as a critical factor that might accelerate André Onana’s exit from Old Trafford.
That was a circumstance United did not anticipate six months prior.
For quite some time now, they've been aware that several positions in Amorim's team require improvement—everyone acknowledges that securing a reliable scorer is urgently necessary—but they believed their top choice as goalkeeper was fairly stable.
Manchester United will continue to pay for Onana's transfer fee in installments throughout his five-year deal. This means they would likely incur a loss if they decided to sell him this summer.
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