Edwin Van der Sar, former director at Ajax Amsterdam, shared his thoughts on Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana, with whom he worked for several years. While acknowledging Onana's exceptional qualities, he also pointed out a certain unpredictability in his game.
"I worked with André for three or four years. He has enormous qualities, especially in his footwork and in many other aspects," Van der Sar said in an interview. He recalled that Onana rose through the ranks at Ajax, from third-choice goalkeeper to undisputed starter thanks to his hard work and determination.
However, Van der Sar noted a particular characteristic of Onana's game: "In a way, he always has that improbable mistake in him. There are times when you think to yourself, 'Wow, how can he do that?'". Despite these lapses, Van der Sar initially thought Onana's move to Manchester United would be a success, after seeing him reach the Champions League final with Inter Milan in 2023.
André Onana's time at Manchester United ultimately did not go as planned. Recruited for over 50 million euros, he struggled and was eventually loaned out to Turkish club Trabzonspor. During his time at Manchester United, Onana was criticized for costly errors. Despite some good games, he failed to establish himself permanently, and was even described by Nemanja Matić as "one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United history".
In September 2025, Onana joined Trabzonspor on a season-long loan.
