Van der Sar: Onana Had 'Tremendous Qualities' But Couldn't Deliver at United

Edwin van der Sar had earmarked Andre Onana as the perfect fit for Manchester United, yet the Red Devils legend has been left bewildered by the Cameroonian's inability to flourish at Old Trafford.

Onana arrived at United in 2023 for £47m following an impressive spell at Inter Milan, which culminated in a Champions League final appearance. Despite this pedigree, the 29-year-old made little impression during his two campaigns, plagued by costly errors under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.

The club has consequently allowed him to depart on loan to Turkish Super Lig outfit Trabzonspor this summer, with the arrangement featuring a permanent option that United appear unlikely to exercise.

Van der Sar, who managed Onana during his time at Ajax, has been candid about his disappointment with how matters unfolded. "I worked with Andre Onana for three or four years at Ajax," he reflected. "He came in as a third-choice goalkeeper and was very eager to step up and become the first choice."

The former United keeper maintained his faith in the goalkeeper's fundamental abilities. "I thought, and I still think, that he has tremendous qualities – reflections and his feet – but somehow, he has the odd mistake in him that makes you think 'That's crazy, how can he do that.'"

Van der Sar identified systemic instability as the root cause of Onana's downfall. "A team wants stability, to know what your goalkeeper is doing so the back four can relate and I think that's what happened with Andre," he explained. "Manchester United haven't had stability for the last six or seven years – the back four changing, the centre-halves and midfielders changing, coaches changing – so, it's difficult for new players to come into an environment where the expectations are high."

This broader malaise has affected numerous arrivals at United over the past decade. "A lot of players who have come here in the last eight or nine years have not reached the level that people expected them to reach," Van der Sar observed.

Yet the 54-year-old had genuinely anticipated success when Onana touched down in Manchester. "I absolutely thought that he would succeed when he first came here to United. As I said, I worked with him and saw him at Ajax, he did well in Italy and played in a Champions League final, so I thought it was a match made in heaven."

United have moved swiftly to address the goalkeeping vacancy, recruiting Belgian stopper Senne Lammels from Royal Antwerp for £18m. Van der Sar has been encouraged by what he has witnessed thus far from the newcomer.

"He's doing well," Van der Sar said. "Of course, it's only been seven or eight months, but it certainly looks like he knows the physicality of the Premier League – I see him coming for balls in the penalty spot and he claims them with confidence, makes saves when needed, not looking to make saves when not necessary."

The Ajax director of football remains optimistic about Lammels' trajectory. "I'm not here day-to-day and I don't see all of the games, but he looks like he has a good package with him to be here for a long time."