Stam: Fans will enjoy getting used to Onana

The ex-Netherlands international, a giant at the back in the Treble-winning team of 1998/99, has no doubts at all that Onana will succeed at Old Trafford, after making the move from Internazionale.

Our new no.24 played under Stam in Ajax's Under-23s, where he honed the style that is sure to be something fans will grow accustomed to seeing when Erik ten Hag's team are in action.

Not only does the Cameroonian have the skills and confidence when using his feet but also the character and personality to thrive with the Reds.

"Andre is very comfortable on the ball," Stam told us. "You know, I worked with Andre Onana at Ajax, when I was taking the Under-23s, and when he was there, and came through at Ajax.

"So he played a lot of games with myself in the Under-23s in the second league in Holland. And he's a player who is, at first, he's a very good person. He's very calm and every down to earth. He likes to joke as well. So you can laugh with him as well.

"But he's a very, very honest person and a very good goalkeeper. You know, his reflexes are immense, they are very good. He's very quick, on the line as well and coming out.

"He reads the game well and is good on the ball," added Stam. "He's very comfortable, always. You know, he's delaying, at times, as well, he's trying to suck players in and then playing that decisive pass through the middle.

"Probably, a lot of fans will think, okay, what's he doing now? So you need to get used to that a little bit as well. But that is how the modern game is being played by goalkeepers who are very confident on the ball and find the right pass.

"He's very good with his left foot as well, so he can play with his right but also with his left. He's not afraid to use that as well. So he's an athlete in goal, which is very exciting to see.''

The Dutchman insists Onana has the character and personality to succeed under the weight of pressure and expectation at Old Trafford.

"Oh yeah, he has [that]," stressed the former centre-back. He's very calm and he is approaching the game very well and he's been playing very important games for Ajax and in Italy at Inter.

''Of course, he's been playing in big games as well. He played in the semi-final of the Champions League [for Ajax] and in the final of the Champions League last season, against [Manchester] City.

"So he's been used to playing big games and I think he can have an impact at United.''