Van der Sar reflects on Onana’s struggles at Manchester United

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has offered insight into André Onana’s challenging time at the club, describing the Cameroonian’s errors as “improbable” despite his undeniable talent.

Onana, who is currently on loan at Trabzonspor while remaining contracted to Manchester United, endured two difficult seasons in the Premier League.

Van der Sar, who played alongside Onana at AFC Ajax, emphasised the goalkeeper’s unique combination of skill and occasional lapses.

“I worked with André for three or four years. He has enormous qualities — especially in his kicking game and in many other aspects — but, in a way, he always has this improbable error within him.

There are times when you think, ‘Wow, that’s crazy, how can he do that?’” he told WeAreTheOverlap.

Van der Sar, a four-time European Goalkeeper of the Year, also acknowledged Onana’s strong track record prior to joining United, noting his rise from third-choice goalkeeper at Ajax to a confirmed starter and his subsequent success at Inter Milan.

“I thought his move to Manchester United would be a perfect match. (…) A team needs stability, to know what its goalkeeper is doing so the four defenders can adapt to it, and I think that’s what happened [the problem] with André,” he added.

Despite his reputation, Onana never found the consistency he needed in England. His performances were marked by both moments of brilliance and critical mistakes, leading to criticism and a decline in confidence.

On loan at Trabzonspor this season, Onana initially appeared to regain composure, but recent performances, including a 3-2 defeat to Fenerbahçe, have raised fresh questions.

However, his 2-1 victory over Gaziantep demonstrated the goalkeeper’s capacity to bounce back, underscoring the inconsistency that continues to define his career trajectory.

Even with moments of promise, Van der Sar’s reflections highlight a fundamental tension in Onana’s game: extraordinary talent paired with the potential for unexpected errors that have shaped his Premier League experience.