André Onana’s Return to Manchester United
André Onana, the goalkeeper for Manchester United, appears set to take the field against Arsenal this Sunday, as indicated by sources speaking to ESPN. This development comes after the 29-year-old had to sit out the team’s preseason activities due to a hamstring issue. Recently, he has returned to training and feels confident about participating in the opening match of the Premier League at Old Trafford.
Goalkeeping Decisions Ahead of the Match
Head coach Ruben Amorim now faces a critical choice regarding Onana’s immediate reintegration into active play. While Onana was sidelined, the goalkeeping duties during friendly matches were handled by Altay Bayindir and veteran Tom Heaton, both of whom have been involved in games against teams such as Leeds United, West Ham United, Bournemouth, Everton, and Fiorentina during the summer preparations. Bayindir has particularly been in goal for the last two warm-up matches against Everton in Atlanta and Fiorentina in Manchester.
Although Onana joined the team on their U.S. tour, he did not participate in any of the three games but worked on training drills with coaching staff. Since returning from the States, he has increased his training intensity, and insiders suggest he is now a feasible option for the match against Arsenal. Amorim and his coaching squad will evaluate Onana’s physical condition and match readiness over the coming 48 hours before finalizing their lineup, deciding between the Cameroonian keeper or maintaining Bayindir as the starting goalkeeper.
Onana’s Future and Transfer Rumors
Onana remains optimistic about his future with Manchester United, disregarding rumors linking the club to alternative goalkeepers as the transfer window progresses. Recently, the team’s attempt to sign Emiliano Martínez on loan from Aston Villa was rejected, and there have been denials regarding any intentions to pursue Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, although the focus seems to be on other recruitment priorities.
As the transfer window nears its end, United is also looking to offload several senior players, including Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrell Malacia, potentially using proceeds from these sales to target a young, innovative central midfielder. Interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba persists, but this transfer is viewed as complex and challenging at this point of the summer.
