Man Utd could lose Andre Onana for four matches this winter as Cameroon U-turn expected

Manchester United are set to lose Andre Onana for four matches this winter, it has been claimed.

Onana has been among the few positives in United’s opening two games of the campaign.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Old Trafford club from Inter earlier this summer for a fee in the region of £45million, pulled off a string of impressive saves in United’s underwhelming 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers and 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

However, United could be forced to endure a chunk of the season without the shot-stopper, with La Tanière reporting that Onana is set to return to the Cameroon fold for the September internationals.

The United star quit international football during last winter’s Qatar World Cup, leaving the competition after a disagreement with the manager Rigobert Song.

Yet should Onana return to the Cameroon setup he would likely be first-choice for Cameroon’s AFCON campaign, which takes place between January 13 and February 11, and miss up to four United games in the process.

If Cameroon reach the latter stages of the competition, Onana would be absent for United’s clashes with Tottenham, Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa.

The initial explanation for Onana’s shock departure from the national team was that the keeper had been punished for unspecified disciplinary reasons.

However, it was soon claimed that Song took issue with Onana’s goalkeeping style.

Indeed, prominent football reporter Fabrizio Romano claimed that the Cameroon boss “insisted” on a “different style of goalkeeping” that was “more traditional” - something that Onana was unwilling to compromise on.

After the fallout Onana stepped down from international duty altogether, confirming his Cameroon retirement in a lengthy post on social media.

"I have put all my efforts and energy into finding solutions to a situation that a footballer often experiences, but there has been no will on the other side,'' Onana said. "Some moments are difficult to assimilate.''

He also said on social media: "Players come and go, names are fleeting, but Cameroon comes before any person or player. Cameroon remains eternal and so does my love for the national team.''

Topics: Football, Andre Onana, Manchester United, Cameroon, Africa Cup Of Nations

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.