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Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has revealed that he turned down Chelsea and Arsenal before eventually sealing a move to Old Trafford.
Onana rose to prominence during his time at Ajax, where he was part of Erik ten Hag’s all-conquering side that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2018/19 season.
Several of Onana’s Ajax teammates, including Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt, joined some of Europe’s biggest clubs. The goalkeeper remained at Ajax and continued to perform well until 2021, when he was handed a 12-month suspension by UEFA after testing positive for furosemide, a banned substance.
The suspension was later reduced to nine months after he insisted he accidentally took his wife’s medicine. He joined Inter a year later as a free agent. He impressed at the San Siro, prompting United to fork out £47.2m to sign him.
Now, the Cameroonian has admitted that he came close to signing for Arsenal and Chelsea.
In an interview with Le Media Carre, Onana was asked about the teams he nearly joined from Ajax. He answered, “I had Monaco, I had Nice, I had Atletico de Madrid, I had Chelsea, Arsenal.”
Pressed further on he came closest to signing for, he replied, “Lyon. I spoke with the president, the technical director so it was advanced anyway. It was difficult for me to speak with the president because I decided to learn Italian.”
Onana has struggled for consistency at United and already, there are rumours that he could be on his way out this summer, amidst interest from the Saudi Pro League.
However, it’s understood the 28-year-old has no desire to leave unless the club informs him that he is surplus to requirements.
Onana told Le Media Carre that public scrutiny is part and parcel of playing for an outfit the size of United.
He explained, “The exposure. When it goes well you are on a cloud, when it goes badly you are lower than that. That is why it’s important to find the right balance, it’s not to forget what made you get there, there is a lot of pressure at this club.”
Onana and United are back in action on Tuesday when they go away to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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