Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has pulled no punches in his assessment of Andre Onana’s imminent departure.
Onana set to leave United
Even though United insisted they were not actively attempting to move Onana, rumors about his future arose during the summer transfer season.
However, Altay Bayindir was named in goal for all three of the team’s Premier League games, making it clear that Onana had lost his spot in the starting lineup once the season began.
When he started against Grimsby Town, Onana had an opportunity to regain his position, but he utterly failed, committing errors that allowed the League Two team to score two goals in the first half and saving only one of the 13 penalties that were taken in the penalty shootout as United was eliminated from the EFL Cup.
United’s deadline-day raid on Senne Lammens virtually sealed the Cameroonian’s doom.
United accepted an offer from Turkish team Trabzonspor for Onana. Onana was given the freedom to decide his own destiny, and after some consideration, he agreed to the conditions that were offered.
According to a report published by The Peoples Person, Onana will receive a substantial signing bonus and performance-based incentives at Trabzonspor, which will enable him to earn significantly more than he did at United.
To formally complete the transition, the goalie is anticipated to visit Turkey on Thursday.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Ferdinand expressed his satisfaction with the ruthless manner in which United moved Onana out of the club.
Ferdinand’s take on Onana’s exit
Ferdinand said, “I think [Omar [Berrada], who is running the football operations at the club, I think he’s made the point that they’re not going to have players sitting around that are not worthy of being at the football club anymore.”
“They’re not going to have players that either aren’t good enough, haven’t performed well enough or are not the right people to be at the football club. He’s not going to have them around like bad smells. I think, for far too long, we’ve had at that at the football club.”
“We’ve been forced to keep players because of bad financial situations that the club have put us in with players and we’ve had to keep them here, sit with them and had to suffer some of these players.”
Ferdinand continued, “I think this is a step in the right direction. As happy as I am with the players that are coming in and providing a difference in terms of speed, dynamism, pace and goal threat, I’m as pleased, if not more, with the way they’ve got players out that the club deemed weren’t right to be there.”
“That side of it has been as important, if not more, than the incoming players because I think it sends out a fantastic message and a strong message to the players that are there: you ain’t hanging about here if you ain’t what we want.”
“That’s what it should be like at every club. If you’re not right for the football club, you’ve got to get out. That’s why I’m so strong on it when a player wants to go, he should be able to force and go… I think it should work both ways.”
United are back in action on Sunday when they face cross-town rivals Manchester City at the Etihad.
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