Andre Onana criticized for lacking the level to play for West Ham

He had the chance to join West Ham during the final days of the transfer window, but ultimately, Andre Onana remained with the Red Devils of Manchester. According to Daily Mail, West Ham chose not to sign Onana because they did not believe the Cameroonian goalkeeper was better than their current keepers.

Football is always ruthless, and Andre Onana’s story right now is the clearest example. Once considered the best goalkeeper of the 2022/23 Champions League season, from being the shot-stopper who led Ajax to the 2018/19 Champions League semi-finals to a legend, Onana is now bluntly rejected by West Ham — a Premier League club fighting relegation — for the reason: “Not better than the goalkeepers they already have.”

According to Daily Mail, Manchester United initiated a proposal to loan Onana to West Ham during this transfer period. However, after consideration, the Hammers’ management stated they did not see any improvement in choosing Onana over their duo Mads Hermansen and Alphonse Areola, even though both have had a poor start to the season.

Hermansen — an £18 million signing from Leicester — conceded 8 goals in just 2 Premier League matches, including 3 goals from corners against Chelsea. Meanwhile, Areola also made a critical error in the League Cup defeat to Wolves.

The irony is that these unstable performances prompted West Ham to return to the transfer market to find another goalkeeper, yet Onana was still not part of their plans. Instead, they shifted their focus to John Victor from Botafogo. For West Ham, Onana simply isn’t good enough.

At Manchester United, Onana’s situation is no better. Coach Ruben Amorim has lost patience with the former Inter keeper. He started in the League Cup loss to Grimsby and soon after lost his number one spot to Altay Bayindir. Amorim commented after the match: “The problem isn’t just Andre. It’s not only the goalkeeper’s fault. It’s a team issue.” But statements to the media are one thing; Amorim’s actions clearly show he no longer trusts the Cameroonian goalkeeper.

It’s almost unbelievable that this is the same player who once earned admiration across Europe. Onana developed at Ajax, playing a crucial role in a young, exciting squad that shook up the 2018/19 Champions League. He was also the best goalkeeper of the 2022/23 Champions League, helping Inter reach the final, where they narrowly lost to a powerful Manchester City thanks to a moment of brilliance from Rodri.

In just over two years, everything has changed drastically. From a hero in Milan, Onana has become a doubted figure, even rated lower than Hermansen or Areola by West Ham. For a goalkeeper who once reached the pinnacle, this freefall is a real shock. Onana’s story highlights how brutal professional football can be. A few mistakes, a couple of unfocused games, and trust and reputation can completely collapse.

Related articles

‘VAR in Chelsea vs Fulham was an absolute farce’ In the match between Chelsea and Fulham on August 30 (Vietnam time), the referee disallowed a goal by Fulham’s Joshua King due to a teammate’s foul. Following this decision, many fans expressed outrage and called it a farce. See more