Premier League giants United invested £48 million ($65m) prising Onana away from Inter in the summer of 2023. Errors crept into his game shortly after arriving in England, with costly mistakes proving difficult to shake across two testing campaigns.
With the Red Devils in the market for a new No.1, as Senne Lammens eventually arrived from Royal Antwerp, the decision was taken to let Onana find a fresh start. He is considered to have made a wise choice in escaping the brightest of spotlights in Manchester.
Cameroon coach Carlos Kameni told Africa Foot: “It’s a good choice. Andre was struggling at Manchester United. Last season, he was heavily criticised, and since the start of the season, he’d barely played (one cup match), and everyone, including him, understood that he was likely to spend a lot of time on the bench or in the stands.
“I told him he was right. It’s a good choice. It’s better to be a starter at a very good club in a good league than a substitute at a big club in a big league, right? In Turkey, he’ll certainly be watched, because he’s a very good goalkeeper, but I think he’ll be under a little less pressure than at Manchester United.”
Quizzed on whether there will be a scramble for Onana’s signature next summer that takes him back to one of the top five divisions in Europe, Kameni added: “Yes. He hasn’t lost his qualities at Manchester United.
“As can happen to all great athletes, he may experience a more complicated spell for a few months. Andre Onana is very professional, he remains a reliable player, and if he has a good season in Turkey, he’ll be in demand next summer.”
Onana remains under contract with United through to 2028. He has taken in 102 appearances for the Red Devils, with his most recent coming in a humbling Carabao Cup defeat to League Two side Grimsby.
