Andre Onana: Trabzonspor debut will be baptism of fire for United star | OneFootball

Manchester United’s deadline day capture of promising young goalkeeper Senne Lammens indicated that one of the club’s existing options between the sticks was likely to depart.

The British transfer window closed with Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton still at Old Trafford.

But Turkish side Trabzonspor have taken advantage of their later deadline to secure a last-gasp loan move for Onana, whose calamitous performance in United’s Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town was the final nail in the coffin.

Loan move close to completion

According to Turkish outlet 61 Saat Onana is “expected to arrive in Turkey tomorrow” for medical tests and to sign the paperwork on his season-long loan.

This is backed up by journalist Hasan Tuncel, who has claimed that a “special plane” – presumably a private jet – is being prepared for the player.

The 29-year-old is said to have been taken aback by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s support for his exit, and figures close to United were surprised by the goalkeeper’s decision to leave rather than stay and fight for his place.

Meanwhile, Onana will be making the move without his Cameroonian goalkeeping coach Carlos Kameni. Chris Wheeler reports that the coach “doesn’t have the paperwork” to join the player at Trabzonspor so “that element of the deal is now off.”

Baptism of fire

Onana is enduring a nightmare start to the season, with his only United appearance coming in that ill-fated trip to Grimsby.

He has twice watched from the bench in the Premier League as Bayindir has been handed starts, and the Turkish goalkeeper’s limp performances will have just been salt in the wound.

What’s more, Onana was at fault for the only goal of the game while on international duty yesterday as his Cameroon side lost 1-0 to Cape Verde.

Footage has since surfaced on X of a furious Onana lashing out at a fan bothering him on the pitch after the match.

But while getting out of the Old Trafford limelight will be some relief, the 29-year-old is expected to be thrust immediately into the pressure-cooker environment of a tense Turkish derby.

61 Saat expect him to be handed his debut in the “crucial” clash on Sunday night against Fenerbahce.

The outlet claim that Onana’s arrival will “significantly strengthen” Trabzonspor’s goalkeeping options as they aim to mount a title charge.

Feature image Richard Pelham via Getty Images

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