Andre Onana in talks to delay AFCON release date
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana will be part of Cameroon’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations next month, but he is hoping to link up with his teammates at a later date
Onana is reportedly in talks with Cameroon in an attempt to delay his release for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Manchester United goalkeeper, 27, reversed his international retirement shortly after moving to England in a £47million deal from Inter Milan in the summer and was expected to feature in Cameroon’s squad for the tournament, which starts on January 13.
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Onana could miss four Premier League matches and further games in the FA Cup should he link up with Cameroon for a warm-up camp in Saudi Arabia shortly before the tournament. However, Onana wants to limit his time away from Old Trafford and is seeking permission to join his teammates at a slightly later date.
According to ESPN, Onana wants to participate in the tournament but would like to delay his release from Manchester United in order to feature in the FA Cup third round tie against League One outfit Wigan Athletic, which is due to take place on January 8.
Cameroon begin their AFCON campaign on January 15 but have plans for a friendly against Zambia on January 9, which Onana would miss. If he is refused permission to play against Wigan, Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest will be his final appearance before the tournament.
Onana’s absence is likely to open the door for Altay Balindir, United’s current No.2. Like Onana, the Turkish goalkeeper moved to Old Trafford in the summer but is yet to make an appearance for his new club.
Tom Heaton is the only other senior goalkeeper on United’s books. At this point, it seems unlikely that Erik ten Hag will seek further cover to coincide with Onana’s absence.
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Onana has endured a difficult start to life at Manchester United after swapping Serie A for the Premier League back in the summer. The former Ajax shot-stopper has made a string of high-profile errors and has looked short on confidence in recent weeks.
Speaking earlier this month, Onana admitted himself that he has not been at his best and vowed to improve. He told TNT Sports: “If I have to speak about my season so far for Manchester United, I am not happy because I know I can do much, much better, I’ve done it and I know I will do it better than what is happening now.”