André Onana faces his ghosts in Istanbul

November 11, 2025 Oliver Obel

When André Onana steps onto the pitch at RAMS Park on Saturday night, the roar will be deafening and the memories unavoidable. The last time he played here, his errors against Galatasaray all but ended Manchester United’s Champions League campaign.

That night, home fans unfurled a taunting banner that read: “Your nightmare is back again.” It summed up a dark chapter in Onana’s turbulent season. But this weekend, the Cameroonian goalkeeper returns as a different man — calmer, sharper, and determined to prove that the past no longer defines him.

From promise to pain

When United signed Onana from Inter Milan in 2023, the deal was hailed as visionary — a modern, ball-playing goalkeeper to transform Erik ten Hag’s system. Yet what followed was a season of struggle. A series of high-profile mistakes and dwindling confidence turned his dream move into a nightmare.

By the following summer, the writing was on the wall. Injuries disrupted his rhythm, and newly appointed manager Rúben Amorim — who replaced Ten Hag — preferred Turkish keeper Altay Bayındır to start the new campaign. United soon moved for Senne Lammens, sealing Onana’s fate. A loan to Trabzonspor offered him the chance to start over.

Starting over in Trabzon

His welcome on the Black Sea coast was far from warm. Trabzonspor fans were furious after the club sold hometown hero Uğurcan Çakır to Galatasaray, leaving Onana to win over a skeptical crowd.

Thrown straight into the fire with a debut against Fenerbahçe, he impressed despite defeat — and has since built steadily on that performance. Now, he’s thriving.

The 29-year-old has kept three clean sheets in eight games and boasts a save rate of nearly 78%, among the best across Europe’s top leagues (as of November 2025). Trabzonspor sit second in the Süper Lig, unbeaten in four matches, and their supporters have already dubbed him “The Wall.”

Confidence restored

Sinan Yener, Transfermarkt Türkiye’s Süper Lig analyst, believes Onana’s transformation has been pivotal.

“With his experience and confidence, Onana gives trust to both his teammates and the fans,” Yener told Transfermarkt Türkiye in late October. “During his time at Manchester United, he sometimes made mistakes, but in Trabzonspor, he doesn’t make those mistakes anymore. He’s focused, he leads the team, and has quickly become a fan favourite.”

Yener added that Onana has been “a big part” of Trabzonspor’s resurgence and expects him to play a decisive role this weekend in Istanbul. “This time,” he said, “fans believe he won’t repeat those mistakes.”

A complicated future

Onana’s resurgence is good news for Manchester United, who are expected to sell him permanently next summer. His contract at Old Trafford runs until 2027 and includes a substantial wage, meaning any transfer will depend heavily on the fee.

“Trabzonspor want to keep him,” Yener explained, “but that depends on how much Manchester United will ask for him. The club has never paid more than €7 million for a player. If United demand €15–20 million, it will be very difficult.”

Even so, the move has already served its purpose. Onana’s performances have restored his confidence and reminded Europe why he was once regarded as one of the continent’s best goalkeepers — the same player who led Inter Milan to the 2023 Champions League final.

Redemption in Istanbul

Saturday’s clash against Galatasaray is more than just a league fixture. For Onana, it’s a reckoning. The same stands that once mocked him will watch closely again — but this time, the narrative could change.

In Türkiye, the rivalry between Galatasaray and Trabzonspor is fierce, a contest where emotion often outweighs tactics. For Onana, it’s a stage to prove how far he’s come, both as a player and as a person.

Whatever the result, his journey from ridicule in Manchester to redemption in Trabzon has already reshaped his story. It’s a tale of resilience, growth, and second chances — a reminder that in football, even nightmares can lead to rebirth.

And if he walks off the pitch in Istanbul with a smile, it will be more than just a victory for Trabzonspor. It will be the night André Onana finally silenced his ghosts.

Sources: Transfermarkt Türkiye (October 2025), BBC Sport, Reuters, AP