Andre Onana feels he has overcome personal challenges off the field after grappling with mental difficulties during the initial stages of his tenure at Manchester United.
After joining the club from Inter Milan in July for a hefty £47.2 million ($60 million) fee, the Cameroon international found himself under intense pressure following a string of costly mistakes.
“It took me six months or seven months not to play good, just to feel good,” he said.
“It was a difficult time for me. Now I’m feeling a bit better because everything was new. It was difficult for me to feel at home because of so many reasons, a new country.
“But now I’m feeling good. I don’t want to talk about my performance because I know the goalkeeper I am and I have done much more than what I just did.
“So, for me, the most important thing is to be set, to be happy and I will shine.”
Onana candidly discussed his difficult adjustment to life in Britain ahead of United’s upcoming match against Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.
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The goalkeeper’s mistakes during United’s brief Champions League campaign proved costly, but his performances have significantly improved since then, and he now feels he is on an upward trajectory.
“I think I had a turning point, but not on the pitch because, like I said, more mental because everything was different,” he said.
Onana, 27, said it had been tough to adjust to life in Britain.
“Of course, I moved last season from Amsterdam (Ajax) to Milan, but that adaptation was quite easy.
“But it took me seven, eight months here. It was just time to learn and just go game by game. I hope we will end on top.”
Onana said he had received support from his teammates as soon as he arrived at Old Trafford.
“They always believed in me, they told me from the beginning, ‘Andre, listen, the quality is there, it’s just a matter of time,’ he said.
He expressed his gratitude, especially towards the supporters and fans, acknowledging their kindness even during difficult periods, and conveyed his heartfelt thanks to them.
He stated that he believed everything was behind him and emphasized the need to move forward. He expressed optimism, suggesting that a great time would come when everyone worked together.