André Onana will say goodbye to Ajax this summer with pain in his heart. The much-discussed Cameroonian goalkeeper decided after more than seven years at the club not to renew his contract, which was not appreciated by the Amsterdam fans. Onana would be ‘a traitor’, after everything Ajax had done for him during his suspension. The goalkeeper gives in an extensive interview with Ajax TV admitted to ‘disagreeing’ with people within the club, but believes there are misunderstandings about his apparent lack of love for Ajax.
Onana was invariably a basic player under the bar in Amsterdam for five seasons, until he was suspended in February 2021 for using the banned substance furosemide. When the 25-year-old was entitled to play again from November, he had to tolerate Remko Pasveer, partly because Onana did not want to extend his expiring contract. Due to injuries of both Pasveer and fellow goalkeeper Jay Gorter, Onana will again get the chance under the bar at the current leader of the Eredivisie in the coming period.
“Before my suspension I was an important player here,” begins a visibly emotional Onana. “I now have to fill that role again. I’m here to help the team.” He can therefore do little with the criticism that the 27-time international receives on his imminent departure (to Internazionale). “If you disagree with someone, it doesn’t mean you don’t love your club. I didn’t agree with some people. That doesn’t mean I hate this club. This club gave me everything. I’m at this club become one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”
Onana shows guilt and admits she was ‘not the best’. “But I think my time has come to leave the club. It would be good to be supported. But if not, no problem. If you’re a scapegoat, choose me. I’m used to cashing in. Importantly, it’s team support. Not André, I’m just a number. If you want to hate me for leaving, no problem. I will still love you.”
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