In the summer of 2023, Manchester United made a bold move in the transfer market, securing the signature of Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan for a reported £47.2 million, including add-ons.
The hefty price tag reflected United’s confidence in the 29-year-old, who had just played an important role in Inter’s run to the Champions League final.
Onana arrived at Old Trafford as the successor to David de Gea, whose departure marked the end of a 12-year era between the posts. Manager Erik ten Hag, who had previously coached Onana at Ajax, hailed him as a modern goalkeeper, adept with his feet and capable of transforming United’s build-up play.
Fans were optimistic, expecting a seamless transition. But less than two years later, Onana’s tenure has become a lightning rod for criticism, highlighted by his public feud with former United star Nemanja Matic and a costly performance that seemed to validate the harshest of judgments.
Onana’s costly errors at United
Onana’s time at Manchester United has been anything but smooth. The 2023-24 season, his first in the Premier League, was marred by high-profile errors that shook confidence in his abilities.
In the Champions League group stage, Onana’s blunders were particularly glaring. Against Bayern Munich, he let a tame shot from Leroy Sane slip through his grasp, setting the tone for a 4-3 defeat. Days later, at home to Galatasaray, he misjudged a pass, gifting the Turkish side a goal in a chaotic 3-2 loss.
By the time United faced Copenhagen, Onana’s shaky handling and positioning had contributed to a 4-3 collapse, effectively sealing United’s early exit from the competition.
In the Premier League, his errors were less frequent but no less damaging. A notable mistake came against Brentford in March 2024, where he failed to claim a cross, allowing a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw.
Statistically, Onana’s numbers tell a mixed story.
In the 2023-24 Premier League season, he kept 9 clean sheets in 38 appearances, with a save percentage of 74.2%, respectable but far from elite.
This season, up to April 10, 2025, he has maintained a similar clean sheet tally—9 in 31 league games—but his save percentage has dipped to 71.8%, according to Opta data.
His error count, however, is what stands out.
Since joining United, Onana has made 8 errors leading directly to goals across all competitions, a figure surpassed by few goalkeepers in Europe’s top leagues.
Fan frustration peaked in January 2025 after a 3-1 loss to Brighton, where Onana’s hesitation allowed Danny Welbeck to score, prompting social media outbursts branding him “the worst goalkeeper in United’s history.”
War of words with Nemanja Matic
The tension surrounding Onana reached a boiling point in the buildup to Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Lyon.
Speaking after United’s goalless draw with Manchester City, Onana appeared to dismiss Lyon’s threat, saying –
“It’s a very good team. We know some of them, but I don’t think we have to focus on them. It’s more about us, what we’re going to do. I think we are better than them, we just have to go there and show who we are. Of course, it’s not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them.”
The comments didn’t sit well with Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic, a Manchester United stalwart from 2017 to 2022 who played 189 games for the club.
André Onana: Man Utd are 'way better' than Lyon
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 9, 2025
Nemanja Matić:pic.twitter.com/cZbhfkGYP8
Matic, now 36 and still a combative presence in Ligue 1, fired back at a pre-match press conference on April 9. His words were scathing –
“If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history, you need to take care what you’re talking about. If David de Gea, Peter Schmeichel, or Edwin van der Sar said that, then I would question myself. But if you are statistically one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s modern history, he needs to show that before he says it.”
Onana didn’t let the jab slide. Taking to X, he responded with a pointed dig at Matic’s trophyless spell at United –
“I would never be disrespectful to another club. We know that tomorrow will be a difficult game against a strong opponent. We focus on preparing a performance to make our fans proud. At least, I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.”
Accompanying the post was an image of Onana hoisting the 2024 FA Cup, a not-so-subtle reminder of his contribution to United’s triumph over Manchester City in last season’s final.
Onana proves Matic right
Onana’s war of words with Matic only amplified the scrutiny on his performance when United faced Lyon at Groupama Stadium.
The match ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, but it was Onana’s errors that stole the headlines.
In the 25th minute, Lyon took the lead through Thiago Almada after Onana flapped at a cross, misjudging its flight and leaving his goal exposed. TNT Sports commentators described it as “poor anticipation,” a sentiment echoed by fans online.
United fought back to take a 2-1 lead, but in the 95th minute, Onana’s nightmare deepened.
A long-range shot from Lyon’s Rayan Cherki slipped through his gloves, gifting the hosts a last-gasp equalizer. Paul Scholes, on punditry duty, didn’t hold back: “Two blunders in one game. That’s not good enough for Manchester United.”
The mistakes were a bitter pill for United, who now face an uphill battle in the second leg at Old Trafford. For Onana, the errors were a reminder of the fine margins at the elite level—and, to his critics, proof of Matic’s harsh assessment.
