Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana, recently revealed that he was on the brink of signing with either Chelsea or Arsenal before his move to Ajax in 2016. This revelation has sparked interest among sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike.
Onana, now 28 years old, became a sought-after player when he decided to leave Barcelona. Despite the allure of the Premier League, he chose regular first-team football in Eredivisie over it. His decision proved fruitful as his performance at Ajax caught attention worldwide.
During his time at Ajax, there were rumors about a potential move to Chelsea. However, instead of joining the Premier League club then, Onana made an unexpected free transfer to Inter Milan before finally landing at Old Trafford in 2023.
Onana starting to make his mark at Old Trafford
The Cameroon shot-stopper had an impressive debut campaign with Manchester United. He made 50 appearances and kept an impressive record of 13 clean sheets across all competitions during this period.
However intriguingly enough, Andre Onana disclosed that he could have been playing for one of Man Utd’s Premier League rivals if circumstances had unfolded differently.
Andre Onana, Manchester United goalkeeper, said:
“To be honest, sometimes you have to accept the reality and you have to recognise that other people are good as well,”
“I was 17, about to turn 18, and Barcelona brought in Marc-Andre ter Stegen who was 22. After three or four weeks, they bring in Claudio Bravo. Then I start to think there's not enough space for me.
“I was looking for options at Arsenal or Chelsea, my agent spoke with them at that time, but in the end I decided to go to Ajax. For me, it was important to be in the first team somewhere and then we'll see what happens. When I had the opportunity to join Ajax, I was so happy.”
Ajax and Inter Milan's success led to dream move
Onana's career trajectory is marked by significant milestones and decisions. During his seven-year stint at Ajax after leaving Barcelona youth setup for Amsterdam's youth setup - he made a whopping 214 first-team appearances and won six trophies.
He replaced David de Gea as Man Utd’s number one goalkeeper last year following a one-year spell with Inter Milan. Reflecting on these experiences and choices that shaped his career path so far - from almost joining Chelsea or Arsenal to becoming Man Utd’s number one - provides fascinating insights into the world of professional football transfers.
Andre Onana's journey serves as an interesting case study for sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts. It highlights the unpredictability of football transfers and the importance of strategic career decisions for professional players.
