Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is set to feature for Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations after reversing his decision to retire from international football
Andre Onana is set to play for Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations
Andre Onana could be set to miss up to nine Manchester United matches after agreeing to play for Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
The 27-year-old came out of international retirement in September following his decision to quit after a disagreement with head coach Rigobert Song. The incident occurred at the World Cup in Qatar, with Onana being sent home from the tournament. However, Onana returned to the fold for the final AFCON qualifier against Burundi, before being selected again for a friendly with Senegal earlier this month.
There had been reports that Onana was debating whether to stay Manchester and miss AFCON after a difficult start to life at Old Trafford. Onana has struggled since making the £47.5million move from Inter Milan in the summer, keeping just four clean sheets in 14 games in all competitions.
But, according to inews, Onana has finally made up his mind and is planning to attend the tournament, which is scheduled to start on 13 January in the Ivory Coast. If Onana is selected in Cameroon’s squad, then he could miss up to nine United fixtures, including four in the Premier League.
Onana may also miss two FA Cup matches and a potential Carabao Cup two-legged semi-final should they get there. The final potential game Onana could miss is in the Champions League should United progress out of their group containing Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.
United currently sit third having picked up just three points from their opening three Champions League fixtures. Depending on the draw, United’s first-leg of a possible last-16 match-up could take place 48 hours after the AFCON final in February.
Onana made a fine penalty save to deny Copenhagen an equaliser in the Champions League last Tuesday and has improved of late. He made a number of impressive saves in the Manchester derby on Sunday, including a flying stop to deny Erling Haaland.
Andre Onana has made a difficult start to life at Manchester United (
Image:
Getty Images)
Onana’s absence could see United make a move to re-sign David de Gea - less than six months after the Spaniard left Old Trafford at the end of his contract. The Red Devils are supposedly ‘worried’ about the lack of cover when Onana goes to AFCON. Tom Heaton and Altay Bayindir are United’s other senior goalkeepers, but neither have made an appearance so far this season.
De Gea, who made 545 appearances during a successful 12-year spell at Old Trafford, was a popular figure at the dressing room and some United players were unhappy with the how the goalkeeper was treated. The 32-year-old is still a free agent having been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.
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