MU legend shocks with assessment of Raya and Onana

Edwin van der Sar stirs debate by removing David Raya from the "world-class" goalkeeper category, but unexpectedly adds Andre Onana to the list even though the MU player has previously disappointed.

Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar has generated considerable controversy by not acknowledging Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as "world-class," yet places Andre Onana, who has disappointed at Old Trafford, among the top goalkeepers.

David Raya is experiencing a highly impressive season with Arsenal. The Spanish goalkeeper has kept 14 clean sheets in 30 Premier League appearances and is a strong contender for the Golden Glove award this season. His consistent performance has also been crucial in helping Arsenal maintain their title race.

Nevertheless, in an interview with ESPN, Van der Sar surprised many by stating that Raya has not reached world-class level. When directly asked about Arsenal's goalkeeper, the Dutch former star succinctly replied: "No."

Instead, Van der Sar pointed out names he considers worthy of this title, including Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Manuel Neuer. Notably, Andre Onana also appears on his list.

This assessment sparks significant debate because Onana endured a difficult period at Manchester United. After joining the club in 2023, the Cameroon goalkeeper repeatedly made errors in his first two seasons. A pre-season injury cost him his starting spot to Altay Bayindir, before the club further strengthened the goalkeeping position by bringing in Senne Lammens.

Onana even disappointed in a Carabao Cup match, making mistakes leading to two conceded goals that resulted in Manchester United being eliminated in a penalty shootout. Subsequently, this goalkeeper was loaned to Trabzonspor in Turkey.

Besides Raya, other notable goalkeepers like Jan Oblak, Marc-André ter Stegen, Mike Maignan, and Jordan Pickford were also not classified as "world-class" by Van der Sar, further making the Dutch legend's viewpoint a topic of debate in football circles.