Onana shocked at Man United exit? Mark Goldrbridge Reacts | OneFootball

Man United and the Onana Saga: Goldbridge Breaks Down the Goalkeeper’s Exit

The latest episode of The United Stand podcast, fronted by Mark Goldbridge, delivered a sharp and unfiltered take on the unfolding André Onana story. With reports from The Athletic and Laurie Whitwell outlining the Cameroonian goalkeeper’s exit plans, Goldbridge dissected the details and questioned the narrative that has surrounded Manchester United’s number one.

Onana’s shock and the move abroad

As Goldbridge summarised, “Onana is somewhat in shock about Manchester United moving him on.” Following Cameroon’s costly World Cup defeat to Cape Verde, the goalkeeper is preparing to fly to Trabzon via Paris, where he is set to face Ederson in Istanbul this weekend. Goldbridge stressed that despite the deal being officially structured as a loan, “Onana is effectively ending his United career with this switch. An Old Trafford return after a season of Super League football is highly unlikely.”

The picture painted is of a player blindsided by United’s decision, yet still entangled in the financial realities of his contract. Onana’s salary had dropped from £170,000 to £120,000 due to the club missing out on Champions League football, a cut that prompted him to raise the subject of a pay rise with United.

Goldbridge on the pay rise demand

For Goldbridge, this was the most baffling part of the story. “Onana wanting a pay rise is one of the biggest laughs we’ve all had in years,” he said. “If he walked in to Omar Berrada’s office asking for a pay rise, I hope he walked in in clown boots with makeup on and a flower that squirts water because that’s a clown move. In fact, he may as well come in with a big P on and a cape saying Pratt Man.”

The presenter pulled no punches in his assessment, making it clear that he found the reports both embarrassing and telling. He went further, criticising the wider logic behind Onana’s reasoning: “I couldn’t give two shits about Onana needing a pay rise because people are depending on him because we’re not a charity.”

Questions over loyalty and timing

One of the sharpest points Goldbridge raised was the inconsistency in Onana’s approach. “If he’d have been in goal for Manchester United, he’d have earned 120k a week. So I sense a little bit of confusion around this because if he’d started against Arsenal and Fulham and Burnley on 120k a week, he wouldn’t have left.”

This, for Goldbridge, underlined the contradiction in Onana’s stance. The goalkeeper’s claim that his family and charitable commitments in Cameroon meant he needed a higher salary did not square with his willingness to stay at Old Trafford had he retained his starting place. “The only reason you’re leaving is because you’re not,” Goldbridge concluded, making clear that the timing of the transfer request suggested his hand was forced by losing his spot rather than by financial pressures alone.

A defining chapter in United’s goalkeeping story

The fallout from Onana’s brief and turbulent spell at Manchester United will not fade quickly. His performances have been widely criticised and his exit now appears to close the door firmly on his Old Trafford future. Goldbridge summed up the overall feeling: “Clearly did ask for a pay rise, which is funny in itself.”

For a club still struggling to rediscover stability, the goalkeeper saga offers another cautionary tale. United supporters tuning into The United Stand heard not only the breaking news but also the raw frustration of a fanbase tired of costly missteps between the posts.