Nine months later, André Onana felt like a footballer again. “They have been very hard months, but we have succeeded. I am very happy to be back and have shown my strength”, said the Cameroonian goalkeeper once he was able to play again after being sanctioned for testing positive in an anti-doping control as a result of an inadvertent error. The still Ajax goalkeeper has been interviewed by the newspaper SPORT, where in addition to talking about how he has handled this whole process and the African Cup dispute that will take place during the month of January 2022, he gave certain clues about his future. “When you open a door, you end up closing it one day. The time has come to open another. We have done everything possible here and we have made history. This is the end and it’s time to build a new path “, commented on his non-renewal with the team ajaxcied, with which the contract ends in June 2022.
Although one of the many possibilities that the Cameroonian goalkeeper faces is that of FC Barcelona, Onana affirms that “we have not chosen any yet. You never know what can happen in this position. We are waiting to see which project we like the most, it is important to assess the sporty aspect “. The 25-year-old goalkeeper replied that “they talk about many other things, they also talk about Arsenal, Barça, obviously. At the moment, there is nothing,” when asked about a principle in agreement with Inter Milan. On the other hand, when it comes to the Blaugrana team, Onana is more forceful in her answer: “I continue to be in contact with Barça. I have had a very, very good relationship since I left.”. After a brief stint at the FC Barcelona quarry, he decided to find a way out, but “the memories I have are wonderful,” he acknowledges.
“Barça is my home and there have always been contacts. It’s my home and I grew up there. If it’s Barça, it will be Barça”added the captain of the Cameroonian team. And the fact is that the possibility of returning to what, as the player himself says, was his home is presented as a dream and, more and more, a reality: “It is very good at Barça, outside there there is also life, but it is also very cold. Being at Barça you have it quite easy “. After 6 seasons in the Ajax first team, and when asked if he imagines himself playing at the Camp Nou one day, he said that “Yes, of course. I know that one day I will end up playing at the Camp Nou, I don’t know if with or against Barça”.
Ter Stegen’s replacement?
Before the words of André Onana and a possible return to Can Barça, as well as the last performances of Marc-André Ter Stegen under the sticks of FC Barcelona, in the interview with the newspaper SPORT The Cameroonian goalkeeper was asked by his German counterpart: “The Barça goalkeeper will always be one of the best in the world, be it Ter Stegen or whoever he is”. However, and despite the mistakes made this season, Onana positively valued the trajectory of the goalkeeper of the culé team. “It is difficult to play for such a big club. Ter Stegen is doing very well, he is still young and it will be even more difficult. If there is no gap, no one will be able to enter, “he added.
Before ending his contract with Ajax and knowing if he will finally reinforce Barça’s goal, Onana will face one of the most important experiences of his career: playing the 2021 Africa Cup with Cameroon as host and captain. Tournament that can be played after having reduced the sanction for doping from 2 years to 9 months. “We will play in front of our fans, family and friends. It is the second time it has been held here, in the previous one he was not even born and it is something incredible. As one of the team leaders, I am going to take Cameroon as high as possible, “he told SPORT. Although he never considered leaving football, after so many months away from the pitch, the Cameroon goalkeeper only wishes” start this new year with a good taste in your mouth “.
