Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has once again come under intense scrutiny after a costly mistake led to Ipswich Town taking an early lead in their Premier League clash on Wednesday night. While United battled back to secure a 3-2 victory despite being down to 10 men, Onana’s latest blunder has reignited debates over his reliability as the club’s first-choice shot-stopper.
The 28-year-old Cameroon international, who has struggled with consistency since arriving at Old Trafford, made a crucial error just four minutes into the game. Rushing to the edge of his penalty area in an attempt to intercept Patrick Dorgu’s pass, he left himself stranded, allowing Jaden Philogene to capitalize with a simple tap-in.
Later in the game, Philogene netted his second goal, taking advantage of a deep cross that Onana misjudged due to Liam Delap’s run across him.
Onana’s performance drew sharp criticism from former players and analysts. Speaking on TNT Sports, ex-Blackburn and Wales midfielder Robbie Savage was baffled by Onana’s decision to charge forward.
“I’ve got no idea why Onana is running out to that position. Dorgu had it under control. He shouldn’t come there.”
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand echoed similar sentiments, stating that Onana should have stayed back instead of rushing out.
Meanwhile, ex-Celtic manager Neil Lennon, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, described the mistake as “a shambles”.
Onana was brought in from Inter Milan for £47m in 2023 to replace long-time United No.1 David de Gea, but questions about his ability to command the penalty area persist.
His early-season form showed promise, leading the league in clean sheets at one point, but high-profile errors have continued to undermine his progress.
From Champions League blunders that contributed to United’s early group-stage exit to mistakes against Viktoria Plzen, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest, Onana has struggled to inspire confidence. His misjudgment against Tottenham, where he parried a weak shot straight into James Maddison’s path, further fueled doubts.
Adding to the concerns is United’s reluctance to rotate their goalkeepers, with Onana’s understudy, Altay Bayindir, yet to start a Premier League game since arriving in September 2023. The club’s decision to part ways with David de Gea, Dean Henderson, and Matej Kovar—for a combined fee significantly lower than what they spent on Onana—has also been questioned.
With De Gea now impressing at Fiorentina and United’s defensive frailties exposed, the scrutiny on Onana is unlikely to fade anytime soon. As United push for a top-four finish, the pressure on their under-fire goalkeeper will only intensify.
