‘Something strange’ – Andre Onana reflects on error-strewn start at Man Utd & explains why he took so long to settle after £48m transfer

The Cameroon international goalkeeper, who helped Inter to the Champions League final last season, completed a £48 million ($61m) transfer to Old Trafford during the summer of 2023. He was trusted with filling the void created by David de Gea’s departure as a free agent.

Onana found the going tough early on, as mistakes crept into his game, but he has said of adjusting to life in England: “It took me six months or seven months not to play good just to feel good. It was a difficult time for me. Now I'm feeling a bit better. Everything was new, it was difficult for me to feel at home because of so many reasons. Now I'm feeling good. For me, the most important thing is to be set, to be happy and I will shine.”

Asked if errors weighed on his mind, Onana added: “I don't think so but it was just moments, sometimes you are faced with a difficult situation. I had a difficult six or seven months just feeling good, not playing good because I didn't think I started to play good. So, it was just something strange, I don't know. It was a good time for me to learn because I learned a lot at that time. Playing in the final of the Champions League [the season before] and being knocked out in the first stage a few months later… it was a big lesson for me. Now I think I have everything on my back, learn it, move on and try to be happy. That is the most important thing.”

Onana credits those around him with helping to rediscover a lost spark, with the 27-year-old shot-stopper adding greater consistency to his game of late. He went on to say: “My team-mates, my players, they always reminded me who I am and the goalkeeper I am and why I came to this club. They told me, ‘Andre, it took some players two years, for others six months and others no time. You have that personality to turn the situation [around]’. They always believed in me and told me from the beginning, ‘Andre, the quality is there, it's just a matter of time’. I am very happy, especially with the supporters, the fans, they were nice with me even in difficult periods and I'm very thankful. I can only thank them. Everything is behind me, now we have to move on and together a great time will come. We just have to do the right thing and the future will be brilliant for all of us.”

Onana has helped United into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they will face old adversaries Liverpool, but a Premier League derby date with arch-rivals Manchester City is next on the agenda for Erik ten Hag’s side.