Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has posted a cryptic message on social media after being recalled to the Cameroon squad.
Onana, who moved to United from Inter Milan for £43.8 million, has been capped 34 times by his country and was the number one choice prior to the World Cup in Qatar.
However, he had a row with manager Rigobert Song and decided to retire from international football altogether as a result.
The ex-AOnana, who moved to United from Inter Milan for £43.8 million, has been capped 34 times by his country and was the number one choice prior to the World Cup in Qatar.jax shotstopper appears to have had a change of heart, however, after Cameroon included him in the squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifying game against Burundi on 12 September.
His impending return comes 10 months after his last appearance and Onana has reacted to his return on Instagram.
He posted a picture of flowers, complete with the caption: “Lies give flowers but no fruit.”
Onana has played three competitive games for United, keeping a clean sheet on his Premier League debut against Wolves.
The 27-year-old could give United a huge blow in the goalkeeping depart as if Cameroon avoid defeat, they will qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations early next year.
The tournament takes place in Ivory Coast between January 13 and February 11 and United will be in action four times during that period.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been recalled by the Cameroon national team for their upcoming fixtures.
The new United signing has made three competitive appearances for the club since arriving from Inter Milan this summer, keeping a clean sheet in the opening day 1-0 win over Wolves.
He has impressed with his distribution between the sticks, and made several crucial saves against Wolves at Old Trafford.
Prior to the World Cup, Onana was a regular for the Cameroon national side.
But ahead of their opening game of the tournament against Serbia, the goalkeeper had a dispute with manager Rigobert Song and played no part in the fixture.
Onana subsequently left the tournament, and posted a statement on his Twitter account which confirmed he would no longer play for the Cameroon national team.
However, he has now been recalled to the squad.
Andre Onana recalled by Cameroon
On Tuesday morning, the national team’s social media account posted the official squad for Cameroon’s upcoming AFCON qualifying fixture against Burundi.
Should Rigobert Song’s side avoid defeat, they will qualify for the final tournament, which takes place between January 13 and February 11 next year.
If they do qualify, and Onana retains his place in the squad for the competition, he is set to miss several important matches for United.
Erik ten Hag’s side play four matches during that time, starting with a crunch fixture against Tottenham at Old Trafford.
They then face Wolves at Molineux, before they host West Ham and travel to Aston Villa to complete their programme of games during AFCON.
Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo will also miss games during the tournament, with his nation having already qualified by virtue of being co-hosts.
The 21-year-old is currently recovering from a knee injury that has kept him out of the early stages of the current Premier League season.
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.”
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana showcased his ball-playing abilities in some style as he briefly turned into a midfielder during his side’s clash against Tottenham.
Onana is playing his second competitive match for United since joining from Inter Milan in July.
One of the key reasons why he was signed by Erik ten Hag was because of his ability to play the ball out from the back, with the goalkeeper not afraid to take risks and receive the ball in dangerous areas.
That was on full display against Tottenham, when he was first to a high ball upfield before taking it down on his left foot.
He then took a few touches forward, beating the press of Richarlison, before pinging the ball out wide to Alejandro Garnacho on the left flank.
The ball not only split the defence, but found the onrushing Garnacho in a position where he could attack Spurs’ defence.
Unfortunately, the move eventually came to nothing, as Garnacho’s low cross was blocked by Spurs defender Micky van de Ven.
But Onana’s involvement was just another example of what the Cameroon international is capable of – and why he is rated as one of the world’s best goalkeepers with the ball at his feet.
United have had chances to open the scoring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Marcus Rashford heading narrowly over from six yards. Antony, meanwhile, curled a left-footed effort over the bar.
But their best chance of all so far fell to captain Bruno Fernandes, who broke the offside trap before heading wide from close range.
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