During Manchester United’s match against Borussia Dortmund, Andre Onana demonstrated precisely why the club invested £47 million to bring him in.
Making his second appearance for United since his transfer from Inter Milan, the Cameroonian goalkeeper showcased his talent and abilities on the field.
In his debut match against Real Madrid, Onana had already impressed by adopting a modern goalkeeper’s role, strategically positioning himself high and initiating play from the back, displaying his skills as a contemporary shot-stopper.
These performances have shown why he is considered a valuable addition to the team, despite the 3-2 loss to Dortmund at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
In the match against Borussia Dortmund, Andre Onana took over from Tom Heaton at half-time and immediately left his mark on the game.
He showed his assertiveness by rushing out of his goal to admonish Harry Maguire following a sloppy pass that forced him to make a crucial save to deny Sebastien Haller.
Towards the end of the game, Onana once again proved his worth, showcasing his skills as a significant upgrade over David de Gea.
He executed a sensational pass, displaying remarkable vision and accuracy. Catching the ball, he swiftly delivered a perfectly paced and precise pass that landed right on the foot of Marcus Rashford down the left flank.
It’s essential to note that this pass wasn’t a random punt up the pitch; instead, it was a masterful display of precision and technique.
The ball sailed over the head of the full-back and found its way directly into the path of the England forward, highlighting Onana’s exceptional abilities as a modern-day goalkeeper.
ONANA INCREDIBLE PASS BUT RASFORDDDD OH MY LORD 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/PCK5qTzXaQ
— Louis Arthur 🇶🇦 (@UTDlouis_) July 31, 2023
Rashford touched the ball down but looked like he was appealing for a foul and the full-time whistle was blown shortly after.
However this pass should not be slept on and could be a sign of things to come for United this season.
One fan wrote: “He will expose so many of our outfielders technical ability lol. They can’t hide behind the previous goalkeeper excuse now.”
A second said: “Onana will be spraying those passes every match. Rashford, you better start brushing up on your ball control.”
A third added: “We really have a keeper who can make one pass that could see us break through and score.”
A fourth simply commented: “Manchester United’s deep lying attacking goalkeeper.”
A final user weighed in: “Onana will expose all the frauds this season.”
Already you can see the impact Onana is capable of having at United, giving them a new dimension and an important shift in how they play.
“He’s a great goalkeeper and has a different profile,” Ten Hag told reports after his first game.
“That’s why we wanted to sign him. With him, something will change in our game.”
United return to action against French side RC Lens on Saturday at Old Trafford, with another fixture slated for the following day against Athletic Club at the Aviva Stadium.