22 July 2023 , 08:54
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Andre Onan a showed his commitment to new club Manchester United by taking part in a full training session – just hours after a tiring journey to join up with the squad in the US.
Once United and Inter Milan had agreed a fee for Onana, the Cameroon goalkeeper travelled to Turin to catch a flight to Birmingham, then drive to Manchester for his medical. That was the only flight path available at short notice, but Onana did not get that flight, staying overnight in Turin, before flying straight to Manchester on Thursday morning.
Once at United's Carrington training complex, Onana completed his medical, but there was no time for him to take part in the usual media activities for new signings - photos, interviews, videos and other social media duties.
Erik ten Hag wanted Onana to join up with the squad as quickly as possible, so Onana was booked on an Aer Lingus flight from Manchester, with some United support staff. Onana's flight touched down at John F Kennedy Airport in New York at 6pm local time on Thursday – 11pm UK time – and he was driven from there to United's team hotel in New Jersey, where he was greeted by Ten Hag, his former boss at Ajax.
Despite his gruelling journey, via Italy, England and the US, Onana trained with United the following morning at the Pingry School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and was spotted deep in conversation with new United team-mates Hannibal Mejbri, Anthony Elanga and Amad Diallo after the morning session.
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Jonny Evans is back with United for their pre-season tour of the States, eight years after leaving them to join West Brom. Evans has signed a short-term contract to play on United's tour, and it has emerged former team-mate Darren Fletcher was the key player behind him rejoining the club.
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Former United midfielder Fletcher, now Technical Director, suggested Evans train with the Under-21s after he left Leicester at the end of last season when his contract was up. It was then suggested Evans join the United squad on their tour of the US, which required him to be under contract to allow him to play in front of crowds in matches.
Although the contract only covers the tour, United have not ruled out the prospect of Evans signing an extension to stay on once the new season starts, particularly if Harry Maguire leaves.
United's base in New Jersey, the private Pingry School, was chosen by Ten Hag because of its remote location and superb facilities. The school, which costs $50,000 a year for pupils to attend, is equipped with several training pitches and is an hour's drive away from New York City, in a green setting far removed from the Big Apple.
The hotel United based themselves at during the first leg of the tour, the Delta Marriott, is equally low-key and remote, so much so that only around 50 autograph hunters have been waiting outside to try to grab some signatures from the players.
In tours gone by all over the world, United have attracted thousands of fans, many of whom set up camp at the team hotel to catch a glimpse of their heroes and claim an autograph.
But Ten Hag's choice of location for his players is in keeping with his desire for the focus to be on football, with only two days given over to commercial activities involving the first-team squad on the two-week tour.