Andre Onana, the new £47.2 million goalkeeper for Manchester United, is determined to make his mark at Old Trafford after being signed by manager Erik ten Hag to replace David de Gea.
However, Onana’s reputation still carries a significant “stain” due to his 12-month doping ban following a positive test while playing for former club Ajax.
In February 2021, Onana, now 27, was suspended from all football activities for a year by Uefa after testing positive for the banned substance furosemide.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced his ban to nine months after he explained that he had accidentally taken one of his girlfriend Melanie’s pregnancy medicine pills, mistaking it for a headache tablet.
Despite the reduction, Onana remains one of the few footballers worldwide to have been found guilty of doping.
Onana expressed his frustration, saying that everything he had worked for had been taken away from him. The ban meant that he couldn’t attend matches, train with the team, or participate in the title celebration at the end of the season, despite having played in every match up until the ban. He also noticed changes in his surroundings, with some people even disappearing completely.
At a young age, Onana achieved remarkable milestones in his career. By the age of 20, he became an international player for Cameroon, a Europa League finalist at 21, and a Champions League semi-finalist at 23.
Born in the small village of Nkol Ngok, he joined Barcelona at 14 before making a move to Ajax at 18. However, his world came crashing down due to a 40mg pill.
Despite the Court of Arbitration for Sport clearing his name and emphasizing that there was no significant fault on his part, Onana still feels the stain of the doping incident.
He lamented the way people perceive him, labeling him as a cheat and an addict. The defender expressed his disappointment that even after the CAS statement and other evidence came to light, the stain on his name remains.
Now back on the field, Onana is determined to establish himself as the best goalkeeper in the world. He sees this opportunity with Manchester United as a chance to create his own legacy and prove his true worth. Despite the hardships he has faced, Onana remains focused on achieving greatness.