The manner with which Manchester United handled David de Gea's departure was wrong, but Andre Onana has what it takes to prove Erik ten Hag right.
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After 12 years, the 32-year-old this past weekend confirmed he had officially left the Red Devils after negotiations over an extension fell through in dramatic fashion. According to reports, United had offered him a new deal months ago, and, after he had agreed to continue at Old Trafford, the club withdrew their proposal and instead let his contract expire in June. This was no way to treat a club legend, but Ten Hag's ruthlessness has got to be admired. He and those around him have made the correct call, and I have a suspicion it was the Spaniard's performance in the FA Cup final that forced the coach and United's recruitment team to ultimately step up their pursuit of Inter Milan's Andre Onana, who is said to be days away from joining this past season's Carabao Cup winners.
Benni McCarthy recently came out to defend the ex-Atletico Madrid goalkeeper, who was once considered among the best shot-stoppers in the world alongside the likes of Manuel Neuer and Jan Oblak. De Gea enjoyed many big moments for United over the years, but his best traits no longer outweigh his shortcomings on the ball and off his line. De Gea is a victim of football's evolution. The game has moved to a point where keepers need to be more daring for the benefit of the team, and De Gea has proven himself incapable of handling the pressure that comes with playing in Ten Hag's preferred system.
The second goal United conceded in the cup final loss to City might've been the final nail in the coffin for the Spaniard, who slowly staggered from left to right as Ilkay Gundogan's mishit volley with his weaker foot from outside the box bounced through a crowd of players and into the back of the net. It can't be coincidental that, in the weeks that followed the Red Devils' loss to their rivals, rumours that discussions between the player and club had stalled begun. Before that, it appeared certain that he would be continuing at Old Trafford. Supporters didn't want to see him mistreated, but they didn't necessarily want to see him again next season either.
Behind the scenes, United would've likely been looking for potential long-term replacements for De Gea for a while, with Onana having been linked to be his possible successor for a couple of months. That process has since been sped up amid talk that the 20-time English champions and Inter are closing in on an official agreement. The 27-year-old is one of the world's leading sweeper-keepers, after come through Barcelona's famed academy and spending six and a half seasons at Ajax Amsterdam, playing 145 times under Ten Hag. The Cameroonian is an excellent passer of the ball and statistics show he was among the best goalkeepers in the UEFA Champions League in this past campaign.
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For many United supporters, it will have been sad to see De Gea leave under these unfortunate and unfair circumstances. One can only applaud the longevity and records he achieved as the side's No. 1, and he certainly didn't deserve a goodbye as shallow as the one he has been given, but it is this kind of cut-throat attitude the biggest club in England needs if it is still be successful again.
Opinion by @KurtLaduma
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