Man Utd may need to retain Andre Onana as their top goalkeeper for another year since expectations of “a profit are nearly non-existent.”
The Red Devils have endured a season to dismiss as their 4-1 loss to Newcastle on Sunday places Man Utd at 14th in the Premier League standings, beneath David Moyes’ Everton.
A player who has been notably underperforming lately is Onana, leading Ruben Amorim to exclude the Cameroon international from the team to confront the Magpies over the weekend.
That occurred after Onana made mistakes leading to both Lyon goals during Man Utd's 2-2 draw with the French team in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Justifying his choice to leave Onana out, Amorim said to Sky Sports on Sunday: “Certainly, it’s important to consider the context.” It is a common occurrence. At times, you need to encourage the player to rejoin the game, while other times, it's necessary to allow him to take a break.
"Tomorrow, he is scheduled for training to get ready for the next one [Lyon], so I thought it was a good moment for Andre to take a break."
“I believe he was fine with it since I explained, and while you may not have to like it, you comprehend because I clarify each scenario.”
Amorim stated: “It’s a typical situation. You need to oversee all aspects; at times, individuals only focus on the physical side, but the mental side is truly, truly essential.
“It’s only for a single match, and we’re giving Altay a chance; he merits it as well. Then, once more, tomorrow brings a fresh start and we will get ready for the following game.”
Recent reports indicate that Amorim 'desires' Onana 'to leave' Old Trafford this summer, with Espanyol's Joan Garcia and Real Sociedad's Alex Remiro being mentioned as potential replacements.
However, David Ornstein from The Athletic believes that a sale is improbable since the chance of gaining a profit on the £47.2m spent in 2023 for Onana is “virtually nonexistent.”
Ornstein informed NBC Sports: "It indeed brings up inquiries regarding Onana's future." He signed in the summer of 2023 for £47.2 million, agreeing to a five-year deal with an option for an additional year.
"Unless someone arrives with a significant amount of money for him, the prospects of United selling him at a profit are nearly nonexistent, and this would imply a loss in PSR profitability and sustainability, potentially eliminating the chance of selling him."
"He has changed agents over the past few months." That was intended for a new agreement or better conditions. He might now need to consider attempting to transfer his player, which would have been surprising for Manchester United.
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