Last summer, Manchester United wanted to get their hands on Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa to replace David de Gea.
Martinez’s agent, Gonzalo Goni, said United were nearly set to make a deal for the goalie from Argentina.
Yet, Erik ten Hag, United’s coach, stepped in and picked Andre Onana instead. He knew Onana well from their days at Ajax.
Goni explained that while United’s decision-makers believed Martinez would be the ideal choice, ten Hag pushed for Onana due to their prior working relationship.
This preference by ten Hag redirected United’s focus away from Martinez, despite internal consensus that Martinez was the preferred option.
Andre Onana, who joined from Inter Milan for £47 million, was chosen over Martinez.
Onana’s reunion with ten Hag proved pivotal, especially after his standout performance in the 2023 Champions League final against Manchester City.
Ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United has been criticised by critics and marked by scrutiny over his transfer decisions since joining in 2022.
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While some signings, like Lisandro Martinez from Ajax, have been quite successful but others such as Antony, Casemiro, and Mason Mount have not fully convinced.
Recently, ten Hag signed a contract extension until 2026, retaining his authority over transfers as part of the terms agreed upon when he arrived from Ajax.
Currently, United is in negotiations with Bayern Munich to secure Matthijs de Ligt, another player familiar to ten Hag from their Ajax days, in a deal valued at approximately £40 million.
Martinez, meanwhile, has thrived at Aston Villa despite the missed opportunity with Manchester United.
His agent noted that Martinez is now part of a promising project at Villa, hinting at a positive outlook for the goalkeeper’s future.
In summary, while Manchester United had targeted Emiliano Martinez as a replacement for David de Gea, Erik ten Hag’s preference for Andre Onana redirected the club’s focus.
Despite internal support for Martinez, ten Hag’s influence and familiarity with Onana from Ajax led to his selection over the Argentine goalkeeper.
Despite the redirection in their pursuit of goalkeepers, Manchester United continues to navigate their strategic signings under Erik ten Hag, aiming to strengthen their squad for future challenges.
