Andre Onana 'involved in furious verbal bust-up' amid major Man Utd concern

24 January 2024 , 09:51

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Andre Onana has been involved in another row with Samuel Eto'o (Image: Mattia Ozbot/Inter)

Andre Onana allegedly became embroiled in another row with Samuel Eto'o after learning he had been dropped for Cameroon's crucial African Cup of Nations match against Gambia.

The Manchester United goalkeeper has endured a difficult campaign since moving to Old Trafford in a £47million deal and some have questioned his role at the club following a catalogue of costly errors in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

And Onana's struggles have followed him onto the international stage after the 27-year-old was dropped and replaced by his cousin, Fabrice Ondoa, for Tuesday's huge match with Gambia.

A new report from Sport News Africa claims that Onana was far from happy after learning he would be omitted from the starting line-up for said match and became involved in a row with Eto'o, president of the Cameroon FA.

The pair, who were once close, have a chequered history and clashed during the World Cup in Qatar back in late 2022; Onana ended up leaving the tournament early following a row about playing out from the back.

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That altercation also led to Onana briefly quitting international football before he was coaxed back into the fold earlier in the season. It remains to be seen if he will be recalled for Cameroon's Round of 16 clash with Nigeria at the weekend.

If Onana is not reinstated for said match and is forced to sit on the bench for the remainder of the tournament, that could pose problems for him at Manchester United too.

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Onana played as Cameroon were beaten 3-1 by Senegal (Getty Images)

Summer signing Altay Bayindir is in line to deputise in Onana's absence and is finally expected to make his United debut in this weekend's FA Cup meeting with League Two outfit Newport County.

If the Turkey international, 25, impresses in the coming weeks while Onana is not playing, that could lead to Bayindir keeping United's current No.1 out of the team once the Africa Cup of Nations concludes.

If Cameroon do go on to progress past Nigeria, Onana will also miss United's next Premier League match, which is against Wolves at Molineux on February 1. The Red Devils then host West Ham three days later, meaning Bayindir could stake a real claim for the No.1 jersey.

Dan Marsh