This summer, United acquired Onana from Inter Milan, the runners-up in the Champions League, in a deal estimated to be worth £47 million.
Onana was Erik ten Hag’s preferred long-term replacement for De Gea because he was the more contemporary sweeper-keeper he had long desired to help develop play from the back.
Foster has expressed his worries and believes De Gea should have stayed for the 2023–24 season, even though he thinks it was “probably” the right decision to bring in Onana.
After 12 years with the club, during which he made 545 appearances and broke the club’s all-time clean sheet record, De Gea left on a free transfer this month. United could extend De Gea’s contract by one year, but they chose not to do so.
Foster characterized Onana as “clearly a very, very modern custodian and that’s what it is currently.”
“Manchester United needed to recruit Onana to advance and get better.” It’s just as easy as that and that is how it works.
Whether or whether the players surrounding him are prepared for that and can handle him continuously playing from the back and acting like a true sweeper-keeper…
I’ve watched how he plays, and he’s quite high up and confidently runs out [of goal]. We’ll have to wait and see if his teammates are prepared for that. It’ll be intriguing, but I believe it’s probably a good decision.
I would have stayed with David for another season, in my opinion. He could have stayed because he had that additional year. £47 million may have been used in other ways. The signing is probably good, but it is what it is, and we must go forward.