August 29th 2023.
Andre Onana joined Man Utd from Inter Milan this summer and was immediately thrust into the limelight due to his past with the Cameroon national team. Onana called time on playing for his country last December following a high-profile falling out with manager Rigobert Song during the Qatar World Cup.
The disagreement between the two was reportedly over tactics, with Song wanting to see more 'traditional goalkeeping' and direct, long kicks, rather than the passing out of the back style that Onana is well known for. Upon announcing his international retirement, the 27-year-old said his 'story with the Cameroon national team had come to an end', but eight months later he has been recalled by Song.
It is unclear whether Onana has actually made himself available for selection however, with Cameroon set to take on Burundi in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on 12th September. Should he help his nation qualify for the tournament, it will have huge ramifications on United as the keeper will miss a month of Premier League action as a result.
AFCON is set to be held from 13th January to 11th February, so if Onana and Cameroon make it all the way to the final he will potentially miss four matches for the Red Devils. Erik ten Hag's side are currently slated to play Tottenham, Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa during that period. If he is absent, Altay Bayindir will have to step up to the plate, with the Turkish shot stopper set to join from Fenerbahce in the coming days, with Dean Henderson off to Crystal Palace.
Of the back of reaching the Champions League final with Inter Milan, Onana moved to Old Trafford this summer for £47million with Ten Hag keen to reunite with his former Ajax star and have a keeper with better distribution skills than David de Gea. He has endured a tricky start to life in England however, having conceded four goals to Tottenham and Nottingham Forest and while he kept a clean sheet on his debut against Wolves, he was extremely lucky not to have given away a last minute penalty.
He'll be hoping for better when United travel to Arsenal this Sunday. With Onana's future with the Cameroon national team back in the spotlight, he will now have to juggle his commitments with the club while also hoping to help his country qualify for AFCON 2021. No matter the outcome, his story is sure to be an interesting one to follow.
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