For over 70 minutes, Manchester United seemed second-best in their clash against Everton, but they managed to leave Goodison Park with a draw after staging a remarkable comeback to finish the match 2-2 on Saturday.
The game started off poorly for United, with Diogo Dalot’s questionable decisions and a tepid defensive effort contributing to Everton’s opening goal. Again, Manchester was undone by Andre Onana’s misjudgment on the second goal; the Cameroonian’s inability to deflect the ball out of harm’s way allowed Abdoulaye Doucoure to outjump a static Harry Maguire and solidify Everton’s temporary lead.
Onana’s recent performances have been marred by errors. Troubling trends have emerged, mimicking his failure to manage the ball against teams like Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur. He started his second season with promise, but ever since Ruben Amorim took over, things have started to slip.
Reflecting on United’s £47.2 million investment to bring Onana over from Inter Milan instead of renewing David de Gea’s contract, Erik ten Hag’s decision has come under scrutiny. Alberto Fontana, a former goalkeeper for Inter, didn’t hold back in his criticism during a chat with La Gazzetta dello Sport, suggesting Onana prefers flashy footwork and dramatic saves over reliability at key moments. He conveyed that Inter made a smart move in letting go of the Cameroonian, while hinting that Manchester United may now be reeling from their gamble.
Fontana didn’t mince words: “I never rated André Onana. It’s all style with no substance. As someone who’s been in that position, I recognize when someone is dressing up simple tasks as monumental feats. He’s been all about the camera-worthy saves, and I’ve never understood how he reached this level. Really, £50 million for him? I wouldn’t even take him if he were free.”
Continuing his candid assessment, Fontana implied that Onana seeks personal glory at the expense of team harmony, which rubs his teammates the wrong way. “Credit to Inter for making that deal. I doubt Manchester United are thrilled with having him on their roster.”
Clearly, Amorim shares these concerns, evidenced by Altay Bayindir getting more playing time and United reportedly eyeing Gregor Kobel of Borussia Dortmund as a potential summer acquisition.
The feature image is credited to Lewis Storey via Getty Images.
Feel free to catch us on Bluesky at: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
