Strachan's Stark Verdict on Onana's United Future
Former Manchester United midfielder Gordon Strachan has delivered a brutal assessment of Andre Onana's prospects at the club, stating he would be 'shocked' if the goalkeeper ever plays for the Red Devils again.
The £47 million signing from 2023 has seen his Old Trafford career unravel after two disappointing seasons, culminating in a summer loan move to Turkish side Trabzonspor.
The Fall of a £47m Signing
Onana arrived with a formidable reputation built at Ajax and Inter Milan but struggled to justify his price tag, making several high-profile errors that eroded confidence.
The situation came to a head under new manager Ruben Amorim, who dropped the 29-year-old Cameroonian for United's first three Premier League games of the campaign before sanctioning his season-long departure.
With an urgent need for a replacement, the club moved swiftly on the summer transfer deadline day, securing Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for an initial £18.1 million.
A New Era in Goal and an Ineviable Exit
The 23-year-old Lammens has impressed since taking over the number one jersey, with reports indicating that legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson is a particular admirer of the young shot-stopper.
While Trabzonspor do not hold an option to make Onana's move permanent, meaning he is technically due to return to Manchester next summer, Strachan sees no path back for him.
'I think Andre Onana has played his last game for Manchester United,' Strachan told Esports News. 'At United you must have a presence in goal... I don't think he had that.'
The Scot questioned Onana's desire, adding, 'A big problem for me is that I'm not sure Onana really wanted to be at Old Trafford. He looked like he'd rather be somewhere else... I'd be shocked if I saw him play again for the club.'
This sentiment is echoed in the transfer market. Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that United are 'super happy' with Senne Lammens and the current plan is to 'find a solution for Onana' and 'explore the market' upon his return.
With Onana under contract at United until 2028, the club now faces the task of finding a permanent new home for their expensive flop, drawing a definitive line under a failed transfer experiment.
