Andre Onana has openly shared that it took him nearly eight months to acclimate to life at Manchester United, marking a mental ‘turning point’ in his journey. The Cameroonian goalkeeper, signed from Inter last summer for an initial £43.8m, faced challenges in his initial months at Old Trafford, enduring criticism for errors and lapses in performance.
Despite the rocky start, Onana has recently displayed an improved form, making notable saves in the recent 1-0 FA Cup victory against Nottingham Forest. As the crucial derby against Manchester City approaches, Onana acknowledged that he has overcome mental hurdles, leading to his match-winning performances.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Onana explained, “I had a turning point, but not on the pitch… more mental. Of course, last season I moved from Amsterdam [with Ajax] to Milan, but that adaptation was quite easy. However, it took me seven, eight months here. It was just time to learn and go game by game. I hope we will end on top.”
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He reflected on the challenging transition, stating, “I already know the goalkeeper that I am. It took me six or seven months not to play well but 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 for so many reasons – a new country.”
Onana expressed gratitude towards his teammates for their constant support, saying, “My teammates 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].'”
Despite the challenges, Onana is optimistic about the future, emphasizing the importance of setting goals, happiness, and mutual effort. He thanked the supporters for their unwavering backing, concluding, “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.”