What's Onana's goalkeeping style?
Andre Onana has described himself as a ‘modern goalkeeper’ who knows when and how to adapt to the needs of the Manchester United team in possession.
The 27-year-old, who joined the Reds on Thursday, has developed a reputation as one of the world’s best goalkeepers.
He helped Internazionale to last season’s Champions League final and, while the Cameroonian topped the competition’s charts for clean sheets, it’s his ability with the ball at his feet that has often caught the eye.
In his first interview with United’s club channels, we asked how he’d describe his goalkeeping style and, as you’ll see, the answer is an interesting one…
Watch Onana’s first United interview
Onana has been a Red for just over a week – don't sleep on his first in-depth interview as a United player...
“I’m very comfortable playing from the back, but it depends,” Andre began.
“I think the most important thing is to recognise the situation and that’s what I do myself, read the situation, especially what the team needs in certain moments.
“When we play, depending on who we play, sometimes you have the possession and sometimes not, so from there you have to be smart and try to help the team, because most of the time playing with these players is amazing.
“I had my first training session with them and it’s just amazing the quality here, it’s great.
“I think a lot of the time we will have possession. Sometimes I have to play higher and sometimes I have to drop.
“It’s just the moments and you have to recognise those moments and from there on, we look forward. “But I look at myself as a modern goalkeeper, so I can adapt to any situation.”
Training Highlights: Watch Onana's first session
Onana's first session | Andre was looking sharp as he joined in drills with the rest of United's keepers...
At the same time, Onana has developed into one of the world's best, from his time at Ajax - where he reached a Europa League final and Champions League semi-final - plus Inter, who he helped reach the final of Europe's premier competition by keeping the most clean sheets.
“It’s not like everyone has the opportunity to play at United,” he added, when explaining why he deserves the move.
“For me, if you’re at this big club then you’re already one of the best in the world, so you just have to demonstrate that next month when the competition [Premier League] starts and I think I deserve it, I deserve a lot of things and I’m very happy for what we have done.
“The clean sheets were not only by myself: of course my team-mates, the defenders and the strikers, because the first defender would be my strikers. Also my goalkeeper coach.
“We work every day to keep the clean sheet at the weekend so, for me, it’s great.”