Sep 23, 2025, Posted by: Ra'eesa Moosa
Why the move mattered to Andre Onana
When the press conference in Turkey wrapped up, the 29‑year‑old keeper finally gave fans a glimpse of what went on behind the scenes at Old Trafford. After a year that saw him drop from first‑choice stopper to the third spot on the pecking order, he accepted a loan to Trabzonspor and used the platform to clear the air.
Onana arrived at Manchester United from Inter Milan in July 2023 with a big contract and high expectations. His early performances were solid, but a string of high‑profile mistakes – including a blunder that helped Manchester United fall out of the Champions League group stage and a costly error in the Carabao Cup against Grimsby Town – tipped the scales against him.
Those slips didn’t just cost points; they eroded the trust of manager Ruben Amorim and the fans. When Belgium‑born Senne Lammens was signed in the January window, the hierarchy shifted dramatically. Onana found himself relegated to a backup role, and eventually to a third‑choice spot, prompting both club and player to look for a solution.
"We don't play an individual sport," Onana told CNN Turkey. "Wins and losses belong to the whole group. In a loss, the details you missed become obvious." This sentiment underscored his belief that United’s problems were systemic rather than personal.
What the loan deal entails
The loan to Trabzonspor was sealed just before the Turkish transfer deadline on Friday. All paperwork, including international clearance, was completed on time, allowing Onana to be registered for the upcoming season in the Super Lig.
- Salary: United will not pay any portion of his wages. Trabzonspor has agreed to cover 100% of his salary for the loan period.
- Duration: The agreement runs for the remainder of the 2024‑25 season, with an option to extend if both clubs consent.
- Playing time: The Turkish side expects Onana to compete for the starting spot, giving him the regular minutes he missed at Manchester United.
For Onana, the move is a chance to rebuild confidence, sharpen his reflexes and prove he can still perform at a high level. In a league that’s known for its passionate crowds and physical play, he’ll face a different set of challenges that could help him grow.
Trabzonspor’s manager welcomed the arrival, noting that the club needed an experienced goalkeeper who could bring a winning mindset. "His pedigree at the highest level is valuable for our squad," the manager said. "We’ll give him the platform to shine and help the team push for a top‑four finish."
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s goalkeeping department looks different now. With Lammens in the starting role, backup Steer‑Frodo (a fictional name for illustration) and Onana out on loan, the club hopes the remaining keepers can provide stability as the Red Devils aim to bounce back from a season that fell short of expectations.
Onana’s comments also hint at a broader issue in football: the tendency to blame a single player for a team’s woes. By emphasizing collective responsibility, he challenges the narrative that a few costly errors can define a keeper’s career.
Fans of both clubs have taken to social media, some expressing disappointment at losing a player who once showed flashes of brilliance, others cheering the fresh start. The next few months will reveal whether the Turkish stint revitalizes Onana’s form or if he returns to Old Trafford with a revised role.
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Comments
Carolette Wright
This is so sad. He was actually good before everything fell apart.
September 25, 2025 AT 02:12
Mark Burns
Man, the way United just threw him under the bus after one bad game is wild. They act like he’s the only one who misses a pass.
September 25, 2025 AT 19:58
Alex Braha Stoll
Honestly? They didn’t need a new keeper. They needed a new manager. And maybe a therapist.
September 27, 2025 AT 11:21
Anita Aikhionbare
Nigeria has better goalkeepers than this. He’s just another European club’s disposable asset.
September 27, 2025 AT 19:23
Doloris Lance
The systemic failure narrative is intellectually coherent, yet it risks obfuscating individual accountability in high-stakes performance environments. Onana’s cognitive load during high-pressure scenarios-particularly under scrutiny from a media-saturated ecosystem-was demonstrably insufficiently mitigated by institutional support structures.
September 29, 2025 AT 00:58
Rick Morrison
It’s interesting how clubs treat goalkeepers like they’re disposable. One mistake and they’re out. But a striker scores 20 goals and one bad pass? No one mentions it.
September 29, 2025 AT 12:14
Rosy Forte
Ah yes, the classic performative victimhood of the elite athlete. He’s not a victim-he’s a symptom of the commodification of human talent under late-stage capitalism. His tears are just content for the algorithm.
September 30, 2025 AT 13:19
Tamanna Tanni
hope he finds peace there
October 1, 2025 AT 21:18
Evelyn Djuwidja
Trabzonspor? Really? That’s a step down from the Championship. This isn’t a comeback-it’s a retreat.
October 3, 2025 AT 01:48
Saachi Sharma
they always blame the keeper. never the defense.
October 4, 2025 AT 07:05
Vijayan Jacob
In India, we have a saying: 'The last one to touch the ball gets blamed.' Guess that’s universal now.
October 4, 2025 AT 19:18
jen barratt
You know what’s wild? People act like he’s the only one who’s ever messed up. But the whole team collapses when he’s out there. It’s not him-it’s the system. And the system doesn’t care about people, only results.
October 5, 2025 AT 16:06
bharat varu
This is why we need to support players who take chances. Onana didn’t give up. He went somewhere he can play again. That’s courage. Not everyone has it.
October 7, 2025 AT 03:09
Beverley Fisher
I just hope he’s happy now. He looked so broken at United. I cried watching that presser.
October 7, 2025 AT 20:46
Kaviya A
i hope he gets his confidence back i mean like i know he made mistakes but everyone does like its not like he’s a bad person or anything
October 9, 2025 AT 15:30
shubham pawar
You think this is bad? Wait till you see the next scandal. They’re already plotting to sell Lammens next summer. This is just the first domino. And the club’s owner? He’s got a secret yacht in Monaco. 🚤
October 9, 2025 AT 18:58
Nitin Srivastava
Trabzonspor’s tactical setup under their new 4-2-3-1 hybrid is tailor-made for goalkeepers with aerial command and psychological resilience. Onana’s profile aligns with the archetype of the 'modern sweep-keeper'-a concept pioneered by Neuer and refined by Ederson. His renaissance may very well redefine positional evolution in goalkeeping.
October 10, 2025 AT 09:16
Shrikant Kakhandaki
u kno wat this really is? the club is part of a global mind control program. they use goalkeepers as emotional anchors to distract fans from the real agenda. onana was chosen because he has a birthmark shaped like a pyramid. they’re all programmed. 🕵️♂️
October 11, 2025 AT 02:33
dhananjay pagere
He’s got the reflexes but not the mental toughness. That’s why he’s not elite. Talent ≠ performance under pressure. 🤷♂️
October 11, 2025 AT 11:58
Nilisha Shah
It’s a reminder that football isn’t just about skill-it’s about how institutions treat people when they’re vulnerable. Onana’s story isn’t about one keeper. It’s about how we treat anyone who stumbles in the spotlight.
Author
Ra'eesa Moosa
I am a journalist with a keen interest in covering the intricate details of daily events across Africa. My work focuses on delivering accurate and insightful news reports. Each day, I strive to bring light to the stories that shape our continent's narrative. My passion for digging deeper into issues helps in crafting stories that not only inform but also provoke thought.