Andre Onana is aiming to go out on a high at Trabzonspor by winning the Turkish Cup after helping his club into the semi-finals with three saves in a penalty shootout.
Onana earned a reputation for spot-kick heroics with Inter Milan, and made two crucial saves for Manchester United against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League and Southampton in the Premier League.
The Cameroon international’s last appearance for United before joining Trabzonspor on loan came in the embarrassing Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby in August when he kept out one penalty in the shootout but couldn’t prevent Ruben Amorim’s side from losing in sudden death.
Onana fared significantly better on Thursday night as his three saves from Lubomir Satka, Marius Mouandilmadji and Yunus Emre Cift helped Trabzonspor overcome rivals Samsunspor after a goalless 120 minutes of football.
The Turkish Super Lig club will now face Genclerbirligi on May 13 for the right to play Besiktas or Konyaspor in the final on the last weekend of the season.
Trabzonspor have made it clear that they would like to keep Onana, and there is also interest from Besiktas. Monaco, who were quoted a fee of £30m by United in June, may well try again, and Saudi Arabia is still an option after he was linked with FC Neom last year.
Trabzonspor have made it clear they want to keep Onana, who joined in September
His move came shortly after United’s League Cup shootout defeat at Grimsby Town
Daily Mail Sport revealed earlier this month that United want to offload Onana this summer despite his desire to resurrect his Old Trafford career.
He still has two years left on his £120,000-a-week contract and wants to return in June to fight for his place with Senne Lammens, who has established himself as United’s first-choice since replacing the 30-year-old last summer.
The club have no plans to bring Onana back as they try to drive down the wage bill, and see it as unrealistic to have a high-earning No 2 keeper on the bench.
Onana’s representatives are expected to hold talks with United bosses to discuss his future, but another move away – either permanent or loan – appears the most likely outcome. United would hope to recoup as much as possible of the £47.2m they paid Inter in the summer of 2023.
